Vancouver groundcone, poque • Boschniakia hookeri
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Some examples of Vancouver groundcone colours at various stages of flowering. Photos by, clockwise from top left: Ian Cruickshank, Maria Shallard, Josh Silberg, Sara Wickham, Gillian Harvey, and Brian Starzomski.
Identification
This relatively small parasitic plant attaches to the roots of other species. It is named for its distinctive pinecone-like shape, growing upright on the ground and reaching heights of 12 cm. It is found in various colours, from light yellow to orange, brown, red or purple. It has scale-like leaves between which small flowers grow. Click here for photos of the flowers and more colour variations.
Habitat & Range
The Central Coast is the northern limit of this species, which ranges south along the coast to northern California.
It is found only in coastal regions, in lowland forests and in association with salal and other understory plants.
Similar Species
The northern groundcone (Boschniakia rossica) is somewhat similar to the Vancouver groundcone, but can be much taller, up to 40cm (16") and is usually brownish in colour. It is generally found north of the Central Coast region.
Human Uses
The root bases of the Vancouver groundcone are spherical, and are a traditional food of the Kwakwaka'wakw and Nuu-chah-nuulth First Nations. In the Central Coast area some First Nations consider the plant to be a good luck charm. The Kwakwaka'wakw name for the plant is p'ukw'es, which may have lead to the alternate common name, poque.
Intriguing Info
This species is a root parasite: it draws nutrients from other plants by attaching itself to their roots. Salal (Gualtheria shallon) is the most common host; kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) can also be a host.
A single groundcone may release more than 330 000 seeds!
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/123144-Boschniakia-hookeri
This relatively small parasitic plant attaches to the roots of other species. It is named for its distinctive pinecone-like shape, growing upright on the ground and reaching heights of 12 cm. It is found in various colours, from light yellow to orange, brown, red or purple. It has scale-like leaves between which small flowers grow. Click here for photos of the flowers and more colour variations.
Habitat & Range
The Central Coast is the northern limit of this species, which ranges south along the coast to northern California.
It is found only in coastal regions, in lowland forests and in association with salal and other understory plants.
Similar Species
The northern groundcone (Boschniakia rossica) is somewhat similar to the Vancouver groundcone, but can be much taller, up to 40cm (16") and is usually brownish in colour. It is generally found north of the Central Coast region.
Human Uses
The root bases of the Vancouver groundcone are spherical, and are a traditional food of the Kwakwaka'wakw and Nuu-chah-nuulth First Nations. In the Central Coast area some First Nations consider the plant to be a good luck charm. The Kwakwaka'wakw name for the plant is p'ukw'es, which may have lead to the alternate common name, poque.
Intriguing Info
This species is a root parasite: it draws nutrients from other plants by attaching itself to their roots. Salal (Gualtheria shallon) is the most common host; kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) can also be a host.
A single groundcone may release more than 330 000 seeds!
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/123144-Boschniakia-hookeri
References
Boschniakia hookeri Walp. poque; Vancouver groundcone. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed on 25/04/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 354.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Boschniakia hookeri Walp. poque; Vancouver groundcone. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed on 25/04/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 354.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).
