These plants are parasitic on various members of the heath family (Ericaceae). The inflorescences terminate thick underground stems that can reach fairly deep down to attach to their host plant...typically salal (Gaultheria shallon), and occasionally on kinnikinick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), or Madrone (Arbutus menziesii). Here it was associated with Vaccinium ovatum.

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, the completion of flower maturation, and (following pollination?) fruit development.

Upon careful inspection of the area, I noticed a number of small pre-emergent '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.