Monotropa uniflora, also known as ghost plant, ghost pipe, or Indianpipe, is a herbaceous, parasitic, non-photosynthesizing, perennial flowering plant native to temperate regions of Asia... Although there is not an Indianpipefungus, Indianpipe is a parasitic plant that survives by borrowing nutrients from certain fungi, trees and decaying plant matter. Indianpipe is only able to feed on one group of mycorrhizal fungi, the Russula. These beneficial fungi are able to attach to a wide variety of tree species including oaks and beech. Indianpipe needs to be bonded with forest trees and fungus because they provide the nutrition for the plant. Indianpipes cannot live without any of those two. Indianpipe’s dependence on the fungus makes it the parasite of a parasite. This month's fungus is Monotropa uniflora, the ghost plant (also known as IndianPipe). Discover the odd-looking IndianPipeFungus and find out if it is safe to encounter during a stroll in the woods. Explore more about small plants, green plants, indoor plants... It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Indianpipe is an interloper in this symbiosis – stealing the tree’s carbohydrates from the fungus and giving nothing in return. The plant is also known as ghost plant, Indianpipe or corpse plant. ghost pipe has no chlorophyll, it cannot photosynthesise. It obtains its nutrients from a fungus that in turn lives in... Many people refer to this strange plant as Indianpipefungus, but it is not a fungus at all – it just looks like one. IndianPipe. This summer was so wet that the mushrooms and other fungus were coming up faster than ever. This complex relationship between Indian-pipe, fungus, and tree might best be termed symbiotic. Indian-pipe is currently placed in the Heath Family (Ericaceae)... Indianpipes insinuate themselves into the relationship between fungi and the tree roots with which they form symbiotic relationships.
