Pinkish-red curved stems bear light yellow, pink-tinged scale-like leaves.  Several nodding yellow or pinkish-red flowers are borne at the end of the stem in summer.  As or after the flowers mature they become upright, supporting the black seed capsules.  Plant is a mycoheterotroph, obtaining its energy from a mycorrhizal fungus, which in turn gets its energy from another, autotrophic plant (Hershey DR.  1999.   Am Bio Teacher 61(8): 576).  Because Pinesap is an indirect parasite of the autotrophic plant, it is sometimes referred to as an epiparasite.  Found in pine-oak woods rich in leaf mold.   Photographed in Georgian Court University Pinelands.

September.  Flowers opening.

October.  Mature seed capsules at top of upright stem.