Pinesap
Monotropa hypopitys
Heather family (Ericaceae)
As the range map shows, this is an uncommon plant in Colorado, but it is quite a memorable find. The plant is a parasite living off fungi which in turn are saprophytes living off dead organic material or they are parasites living off live plants. "Monotropa" is from the Greek "monos," "single," and "tropos," "a turn," meaning "turned or directed to one side," alluding to the one-sided ." Hypopitys means "under pines."
scale -- A very small leaf around a dormant bud. Also other things that might remind one of fish scales on the surface of ferns, stems and the like.
A parasitic plant derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant.
Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.
capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.
fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.
A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along its axis.
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.