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Indian Pipes

Monotropa uniflora

Habitat:

shady pine woods

Notes:

came up right after a heavy rain

1 Species ID Suggestions

gehbon
gehbon 11 years ago
I thought these were mushrooms of some sort?
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2 Comments

auntieanna
auntieanna 11 years ago

No, they aren't mushrooms, but they don't photosynthesize like most plants. Here's what Wikipedia says about that: "Unlike most plants, it is white and does not contain chlorophyll. Instead of generating energy from sunlight, it is parasitic, more specifically a myco-heterotroph. Its hosts are certain fungi that are mycorrhizal with trees, meaning it ultimately gets its energy from photosynthetic trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments as in the understory of dense forest. The complex relationship that allows this plant to grow also makes propagation difficult."

AngelChandler
AngelChandler 11 years ago

I always think it a special treat when I notice these on my woody trails! One of the coolest plants.

auntieanna
Spotted by
auntieanna

Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA

Spotted on Jun 15, 2012
Submitted on Jun 15, 2012

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