Characteristics:
Candy stick is a uniquely interesting wildflower, probably most notable for its striking color pattern. The single erect stem arises 10-40 cm and is colored with white and red stripes running parallel to the stem (as seen in the photo at right). The stem is swollen at the base and is often more than 1 cm in diameter. many scale-like leaves may be found along the stem, and are especially numerous near the base. The lower leaves are ovate in shape while the upper ones are lanceolate. They range from pinkish to yellowish-brown in color.
The flowers form a raceme which ranges from 5-20 cm long on the upper half of the stem. Individual flowers lack a corolla and consist of 5 white, pinkish, or brownish sepals instead. The sepals are about 5 mm long. The stamens are purplish and range from equal in length to double the length of the sepals.
Habitat:
Candy stick may be found in the deep humus soils of low elevation coniferous forests.
Candy stick may be found from British Columbia south along the coast to the southern Siera Nevada and coast ranges of California. In the Pacific Northwest it may be found from the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mts. west to the Pacific Ocean.
It may be found in the Columbia River Gorge between the elevations of 2000'-4000' between the Wind River in the west and the White Salmon and Hood Rivers in the east.