Mycotrophic wildflowers  and rare plants

In the shady coniferous forests of Mt. Elphinstone there are several spectacular examples of "fungus flowers'. These plants get their organic nutrients from nearby trees via an underground conduit system of mycorrhizial soil fungi.

Because their method of obtaining nutrition is very similar to that of wild mushrooms, fungus flowers are called "mycotrophic wildflowers" by botanists. Mycotrophic literally means "fungus nutrition." Like a mushroom, they lack chlorophyll and are nonphotosynthetic.

Gnome Plant           Hemitomes congestum  

In natural forest ecosystems throughout tropical and temperate regions of the world, many plant species depend on symbiotic soil fungi living in their root systems. This is especially true of coniferous forest ecosystems. The microscopic fungal filaments (called hyphae) greatly increase the surface area of the root systems and facilitate the absorption of water and mineral nutrients from the soil. In return for this vital service, the photosynthetic trees reward their fungal partners with energy-rich carbohydrates and amino acids. The remarkable relationship has been termed mycorrhizae, and literally means "fungus-roots." But of all the mycorrhizal associations, perhaps the most amazing are the strange and unusual flowering plants that are also intimately connected to this fungus-root partnership. Since many of these "fungus flowers" lack chlorophyll and are incapable of making their own energy-rich carbohydrates, they are absolutely dependent on the photosynthetic forest trees. Using labeled sugars containing radioactive carbon 14, scientists have shown that carbohydrates synthesized by nearby forest trees pass into the mycorrhizal soil fungi and eventually into the mycotrophic "fungus flowers."  Known as "mycotrophic wildflowers" in botanical circles, some of these fleshy white flowers superficially resemble a moist fungus as they push out of the soil. They certainly include some of the world's truly bizarre flowering plants.

Since they are living parasitically on fungi that are in turn parasitic on the roots of trees, these amazing flowers have been termed epiparasites (a parasite on a parasite). Unlike true root parasites, such as the broom-rapes, they are not directly parasitic on the host trees. They have essentially developed a niche similar to that of a mushroom. But unlike fungi, they are true vascular plants with flowers and seed-bearing capsules.

Coral-root orchid         Corallorhiza maculata

All of these curious wildflowers develop from a mass of fungal hyphae and tree roots deep in the ground.

The germinated seed of this species starts out in a mycorrhizal relationship with a compatible soil fungus.  The stem develops from a fleshy mass of fungal hyphae and tree roots deep in the ground, and resembles a clump of soft corals. Since it is heterotrophic and nonphotosynthetic, it absorbs carbohydrates and minerals from its fungal partner, which in turn absorbs these vital nutrients from the roots of nearby trees. The above coral-root orchid seed (Corallorhiza) grows into a nonphotosynthetic mycotrophic wildflower that is completely dependent on its mycorrhizal fungus. It continues this symbiotic relationship with a fungus throughout its entire life.

Candystick             Allotropa virgata

A striking mycotrophic wildflower that looks more like a peppermint stick than a flowering plant.   Grows off matsutake mycelium. 

For Allotropa to do well it has to bond itself to the fungi, but the fungi isn't chlorophyllic either so they tap into the roots of trees. The mycorrhizal fungi brings in increased absorption to the tree and protects their root tips from some sorts of pathogens. The tree, in turn, takes the water and nutrients from the soil and converts those through photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates (chlorophyll is the catalyst to change simple sugars to starch). The tree then takes those carbohydrates and translocates them back down to the roots, which in turn feed the fungi.

Considered a "sensitive" plant by the US Forest Service.

Pinesap         Hypopitys monotropa

Showing the fleshy, reddish flower stalks.    

Indian pipe or Ghost Plant                  Monotropa uniflora

Each fleshy white stalk bears a single, bell-shaped flower. Notice the dead stalks from last years growth.