rose twisted stalk?

[forestgnome]

On a glorious hike on Crawford Path, just south of Mt. Franklin, I saw these flowers. In my guide book, "Wildflowers of the White Mountains" by Hession and Michaud, it looks like rose twisted stalk. A nice woman on the trail identified it as something else, but I can't quite remember the name. Does it have another name? Is it something else?

 

[arghman]

On a glorious hike on Crawford Path, just south of Mt. Franklin, I saw these flowers. In my guide book, "Wildflowers of the White Mountains" by Hession and Michaud, it looks like rose twisted stalk. A nice woman on the trail identified it as something else, but I can't quite remember the name. Does it have another name? Is it something else?

you got it right, Streptopus roseus. the other Streptopus species is S. amplexifolius (clasping-leaf twisted-stalk):

which has whitish flowers with a little kink in the peduncle (had to look that word up), the leaves join the stem a little differently but I find that a hazy distinction.

 

[carole]

A nice woman on the trail identified it as something else, but I can't quite remember the name. Does it have another name? Is it something else?

It is also called wild cucumber (not to be confused with Indian cucumber). The young shoots and leaves have a cucumber taste. The red berry rolled in a leaf is a nice treat (but don't eat too many).

 

[vegematic]

I have to ask....

...The red berry rolled in a leaf is a nice treat (but don't eat too many).

Why not?
-vegematic

 

[carole]

Several sources say they are mildly "cathartic". Think purgative, laxative. As with most wild foods it is always best to try them sparingly at first.