Interesting growth on Crawford Path

[carole]

There is still some flowers and the berries are ripening on Crawford Path but I saw several patches of this white 'plant'. This is a closer view. Any one know what it is?

 

[nartreb]

Hard to tell, but my best guess is an unusually thick cluster of
indian pipe (not yet mature)
photo taken yesterday

informative site with much clearer photos

 

[AMF]

Interesting photo... I have always associated Indian Pipe with a more deciduous forest (as in the link posted by nartreb); yours looks like a more coniferous, boreal setting. It does look like the fruiting body of some type of fungus... any mycologists out there?

 

[carole]

Sorry I didn't explain where this was. This is on the Crawford Path (in the Presidential Range) above treeline as you approach Eisenhower from the south. I have seen Indian Pipe in various stages of life and this didn't resemble any I've seen.

 

[nartreb]

I agree - indian pipe has visible blossoms right away, none of your stalks do. Also, it tends to prefer shadier habitat as AMF mentioned.

OK, I'll take another guess. There are lots of white fungi in the world, but I'm leaning toward a coral fungus
like clavulina cristata
or clavaria vermicularis
Clavaria in particular is known to associate with azalea roots, and I see an azalea/rhododendron in the background of your photo. Strangely, I found a couple of sources that say it fruits AFTER a frost, but then I also found some photos clearly showing deciduous leaves in the background. example

 

[carole]

nartreb: Thanks for the links, they are really interesting. So many fungi!