Monotropa uniflora
Mark Moran
Indian Pipe, also known
as “Corpse Plant,” is one of the easiest plants to
recognize. Unlike most plants, Indian Pipe doesn’t have
chlorophyll, the stuff that makes plants green. Indian Pipe
is a waxy, whitish color. It turns black when it gets
old. Indian Pipe grows only
four to ten inches tall. It has flowers
that droop and tiny, scale-like leaves.
When they look at it, most people think Indian Pipe is a
fungus. Indian Pipe is usually
seen from June to September. It grows in shady woods with
rich soil and decaying
plant matter.
This plant is often found near dead stumps. Copyrigh 2001, Eleanor
Saulys
Charles Webber @ California Academy of Sciences
Indian Pipe has two
special relationships; one with a tree, and one with a
fungus. Actually, it's one relationship, where Indian
Pipe takes nutrients
from both the tree and the fungus at the same
time. Here's how it works:
Since Indian Pipe has no chlorophyl, it can't make its own
food like most plants. Therefore, it has to "borrow"
nutrients, either from decaying plant matter, or from
another organism.
The way it does this is by having its roots
tap into the mycelia
(root-like threads) of a fungus. The Indian Pipe can then
take nutrients directly from the fungus. Meanwhile, the
fungus itself has another relationship going on with a tree.
The fungus's mycelia also tap into the tree's roots. Many
fungi and trees have this type of relationship -- it's
called a "mycorrhizal
relationship."
The fungus gives nutrients to the tree and the tree gives
nutrients to the fungus. Both organisms help each other
out. Indian Pipe, however,
does not give anything back to the fungus or the tree. It
takes nutrients from the fungus that the fungus had gotten
for itself, and it also takes nutrients that the fungus had
received from the tree. Since the fungus then has to take
more nutrients from the tree, this makes Indian Pipe a
parasite
of both the fungus and the tree. Copyright, Tom Volk,
TomVolkFungi.net
Copyright 1995 - 2003, Keith Dawson
Indian Pipe doesn't
become a parasite of every fungus and tree, only certain
species. We don't know all the species yet, but we do know
they use Russula mushrooms
and Lactarius mushrooms. Some trees that have mycorrhizal
reltionships with these mushrooms, and are used by Indian
Pipe, include American Beech and pines. Indian Pipe is a food
source for small bumble bees, which visit flowers for
nectar.
The bees help the plant by pollinating
it. Later, the plant grows tiny seeds. Even though Indian Pipe
is a beautiful plant, don't bother picking it (You shouldn't
pick wildflowers anyway!!!!). It wilts and turns black very
quickly. Copyright, Jim Stasz,
PLANTS
