Non-Photosynthezing Plants Are Forest Magic
By Kaila Pennock
Finding non-photosynthesizing plants in the woods is exciting. They indicate a robust healthy ecosystem with intricate and mature fungal networks. With their fleshy and translucent appearance, they are often mistaken for mushrooms.
These ephemeral plants live in the shadows of the forest floor occupying unique ecological roles. They get their nutrients either directly from a host plant or through mycorrhizal fungi, and don’t tolerate being separated from their environmental niches in the deep leaf litter.
Ghost pipes (Monotropa uniflora) receive their energy by tapping into the nutrient exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and trees. They are usually white but can have slight color variations, especially pink. During the summer they emerge with a single downward facing flower, which native bumblebees pollinate. After pollination, the flower points upwards and eventually hardens into a seed capsule. They are often found in scattered groups along the roots of mature trees, from which they indirectly receive energy.
Pinesaps (Hypopitys spp.) are closely related to ghost pipes but they have an association with a different kind of mycorrhizal fungi. They are infrequent to rare throughout their range, preferring acidic upland forests. They usually have multiple flower heads per stalk and can self pollinate, although bees also visit for cross pollination. The summer blooming pinesaps come up yellow while the fall blooming are red.
Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata) is a rare plant, found in the dry acidic forests of Appalachia and the Piedmont. This plant also obtains its energy by tapping into the symbiosis between a specific mycorrhizal fungus and its host tree. It has a unique life cycle, emerging in the fall, protected by leaf litter throughout the winter, and blooming in early spring. As the Latin name suggests, it has an aroma. The sweet, clove-like scent of the blooms is so strong that it can be smelled from yards away. This helps attract pollinators, such as bumblebees, even when the plant is hidden within leaf matter.
Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana), have a direct obligate relationship with beech trees (Fagus grandifolia). The roots of the beech tree release chemicals into the soil that trigger the germination of beechdrop seed. The plant then develops a root-like structure called haustoria that grows into the tree’s roots and draws out nutrients. From a distance, the slender stems of beech drops blend into the forest floor. However, examining them closely in the summer or fall reveals their succulent, copper, and purple-striped flowers. The bottom of the plant has closed flowers that self-pollinate while the top has open flowers that are pollinated by ants. The presence of beechdrops indicates a thriving beech tree population.