This insectivorous plant has a twisted tube which enlarges into an inflated head that bends down like a hood, making it resemble a cobra. The insects land on this platform and can enter the tube through the opening. Once an insect is inside it is difficult to escape and the insect usually becomes part of the plant's diet. In Siskiyou County Subalpine vegetation is found on Willow Creek Mountain, Goosenest, and the upper slopes of Mt. Shasta. If you'd like to take a look at this vegetation from an unusual perspective, take a ride on the ski lift during the summer.
Alpine vegetation is low-growing due to the intense cold and strong winds.
Alpine meadows exist in the moister and more protected sites but fellfields , with ground-hugging plants scattered among the rocks and snow fields, are more common on Mt. Shasta. References Barbour, Michael and Jack Major. Terrestrial Vegetation of California . California Native Plant Society, 1988. Freeman, Linda E. Distribution of Darlingtonia californica on Mt. Eddy, California .