Myco-heterotrophy, the relationship described in an earlier post about the indian pipe plant, is not so uncommon, and can be found in several different groups of plants. The monotropes, the liverwort Cryptothallus, and non-photosynthetic orchids are full-time myco-heterotrophs. Some plants are partial myco-heterotrophic, and others can switch back and forth, or are myco-heterotrophic at one particular time (Some ferns and clubmosses are myco-heterotrophic in their gametophyte stages).
The fungi that are parasitized by myco-heterotrophs are typically fungi with large energy reserves to draw on, usually mycorrhizal fungi (which get their energy from a host plant or tree).
The genus Pyrola (or wintergreen) in the Ericaceae family of plants contains species that can live both photosynthetically or not, and they have either leaved or leafless forms. The latter plants are totally dependent on the mycellum they feed on. Pyrola, or wintergreen lives in damp and dark places where there is plenty of leaflitter, and of course, fungi.
I found this particular wintergreen in the darkest possible place in the Bridge Street conservation area in Barnstable. It has the thick arrangement of flowers often seen in Pyrola minor (snowline wintergreen), but Cape Cod is too far south for its range. Is this Pyrola americana (american wintergreen), or another Pyrola species? This particular plant had no basal leaves. Can anyone help me identify this species?
Thanks for telling the benefit of Indian pipe plant, it was really too helpful to read the post….