First Ever Sighting In MA Of Endangered 'Pine-Drops' Plant Confirmed

MASSACHUSETTS — A rare, endangered plant that mostly exists in the Rocky Mountains and western states was seen for the first time recently in Massachusetts.

Amateur botanist Syke van der Laan spotted a patch of pine-drops plants, also known as pterospora andromedea, in the Berkshires recently, according to MassWildlife. Pine-drops have so far only been confirmed in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

"The discovery of a new native plant here in Massachusetts is extraordinary," MassWildlife State Botanist Robert Wernerehl said. "We have more active professional botanists per square mile than almost any other state, so these types of discoveries are rare — yet they do happen."

The largest population of pine-drops are located in the Rocky Mountains and areas west. The plants spread when strong winds pick up the seeds and carry them to the plant's preferred habitat: dry pine forests. Unlike many common plants in Massachusetts, pine-drops use mycorrhizal fungi to collect nutrients rather than chlorophyll.

Pine-drop are listed as threatened in Michigan, and are considered endangered in New York, Vermont and Wisconsin, according to the U.S. Forest Service.