Edited: oh, grrrr, I am just *sure* it's one of the parasitic or saprophytic plants, but I am not coming up with what it is. If I have time after DH uses the computer, which he is about to, I will go back to looking...
I knew I'd seen it somewhere. I still can't remember WHERE I've seen it -- possibly the Poconos? NC? -- but it doesn't really matter, it's a cool plant, isn't it?