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Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora)

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While not an orchid, mushroom, fungus, or anything related, the delicately beautiful Indian Pipes - also known as the ghost plant - is actually a parasitic plant called a saprophyte. This unusual plant feeds on decaying tree roots and is found in very rich and old forests, but I have found them growing in Central Florida in an oak/palmetto scrub. Since they do not require sunlight to grow, they are most often found in the darkest parts of the forests where there is also a lot of moisture present. Therefore they do not need to be green (contain chlorophyll) to convert sunlight into energy.

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©2008
Image Size
4288x2848 / 6.1MB
Keywords
Contained in galleries
Saprophytes, Ericaceae (Heather and Rhododendrons), Saprophytes
While not an orchid, mushroom, fungus, or anything related, the delicately beautiful Indian Pipes - also known as the ghost plant - is actually a parasitic plant called a saprophyte. This unusual plant feeds on decaying tree roots and is found in very rich and old forests, but I have found them growing in Central Florida in an oak/palmetto scrub. Since they do not require sunlight to grow, they are most often found in the darkest parts of the forests where there is also a lot of moisture present. Therefore they do not need to be green (contain chlorophyll) to convert sunlight into energy.