Coralroot Orchid

February 20, 2013 at 10:56 am · Filed under Uncategorized and tagged: coralroot orchid, fungus

I found this neat plant growing right in the middle of transect #35 near JD Creek. This orchid, Corallorhiza maculate, does not contain chlorophyl. Therefore, they are unable to use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Instead, they get all of their energy by taking it from the mycelium of underground fungi. This relationship is known as mycoheterotropy.

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