The stout, cylindrical inflorescences are fairly well-developed before they push up from beneath the soil/duff...subsequently undergoing slight enlargement due to the flaring of their floral bracts, and maturation of flowers and fruit. The inflorescences terminate thick underground stems that can reach fairly deep down to attach to their host plant...typically salal (Gaultheria shallon), and occasionally kinnikinick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), or Madrone (Arbutus menziesii). Here it was associated with Vaccinium ovatum.

Upon careful inspection of the nearby area, I noticed a number of small 'bumps' on the soil surface, and gently scraping away a bit of duff revealed the pale yellowish bracts at the top of other emerging inflorescence stalks.