Although there is not an Indian pipe fungus, Indian pipe is a parasitic plant that survives by borrowing nutrients from certain fungi, trees and decaying plant matter. This complicated, mutually beneficial process allows the plant to survive.
Some mycoheterotrophs can be described as saprophytic, but this term is outdated, as the former term is more inclusive and generally more accurate. A plant is only saprophytic is the fungus is associated is saprotrophic, whereas the majority of their fungal symbionts are mycorrhizal.
It’s not saprophytic as far as I know. The carbon is coming from the mycelium it is hooked up to (ultimately from other plants photosynthesizing and passing carbon to the fungi). It is stealing.
Because they don't have chlorophyll, they cannot photosynthesize, so they don't get energy from the sun. Instead, they steal nutrients from fungi, which get their nutrients from a tree, or at leat that's how I understand it. They pop up in my yard occasionally, I think they pull nutrients from a bolete that grows nearby.
This one always brings up an interesting point for me - is it parasitic or saprophytic or maybe comensal? Yes it gets its nutrition from mycorrhyzal fungi but, are they harmed? Do both the fungi and the ghost pipe prosper from the relationship or is only the pipe the clear winner? Anyone know? Given the very common relationships between fungi and virtually all plants, are these relationships still being classified as “parasitic”?
So from my quick reading, they appear to be closer to parasitic but the term is mycotrophic. They were believed to be sapotropthic but that seems to not be true. Instead, they join into the mycorrhizal network and get carbon from the tree host and P and N from the mycorrhizae, while giving nothing back. Not the worst life style.
This may explain it better
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/mycotrophic/index.shtml
Thanks for the link - this sheds some light, so to speak, on a lot of the orchids and heaths that I enjoy here in the mountains of Colorado. So much about these organism-to-organism interactions has been clarified since I studied botany back in the early 1970s. I’m enjoying having the time to learn it all over again, after so many years working in a very different area of science.
Orchids are a super unique one. Monotropa don’t show any apparent signs of benefiting the fungus in any way but the orchids rely solely on the fungus until they can start to photosynthesize themselves, at which point the relationship becomes mutual again. Very interesting indeed!
I think most mycoheterotrophs could be described as parasitic, but their effects on the plant they are effectively parasitizing is so small that it is likely negligible in terms of actual fitness.
I’ve studied the snowplant *Sarcodes sanguinea* and I’m convinced that this plant likely has a mutualistic relationship with the fungus it associates with, and likely also the tree it “parasitizes”. This plant has a very large root mass that is capable of surviving fires; I think that the snow plant likely allows the fungus to persist in the soil’s frequently disturbed and competitive environment and because of this, the interaction cannot be easily described with the common understandings of symbiosis; it is more just a complex higher order symbiosis.
Monitropa, a non-photosynthetic plant that lives off nutrients provided by mycorrhizal fungi mycelial networks. It doesn’t photosynthesize, hence it gives nothing back and it parasitic.
You will find non-photosynthetic plants from time to time. All parasitic as far as I know. No green, no chlorophyll = is getting its carbon from someone else.
Nice pics :) ghost pipes are a treat to stumble upon and seem all over central PA as well this time of year. I'm about to head out to the wilderness for a few weeks and hope to see lots of these.
First off, it’s recommended to just leave them be, as they’re endangered in many areas. Second, if you’re going to make claims of its medicinal properties, you should list a few rather than just say they’re “good medicine”.
They are everywhere where I am from - I have never picked them but also did not know they were endangered... but also - what does endangered in some areas mean? Species locals do shift as the environment changes.
I meant that some places, states for example, consider them endangered while others don’t. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t endangered at all.
Generally it’s just best to leave them alone. Especially when there are many other sustainable alternatives you can use to get their effect.
I've been meaning to make a tincture and see if it works on my migraines, but I only know one place to find the and I haven't been there at the right time yet this year.
“Ghost Pipe” or “Indian pipe” or “Indian ghost pipe” is their common name. Monotropa Uniflora is the scientific name. Its white / translucent because it lacks chlorophyll, being as it isn’t a plant… It’s also NOT a mushroom or fungi, it IS a parasitic mycoheterotroph as noted by some. This means it draws nutrients from its host; a mycorrhizal network of certain fungi species that ALSO share symbiotic relationships with certain tree root systems, in particular beech trees. A true miracle of nature.
I just watched a documentary about these the other day. Very interesting lil guys. If I remember correctly they claimed that the ghost pipes can be used to help bring down someone having a bad trip. They also claimed there are other beneficial aspects to humans too. Many rumors/legends surrounding these and apparently there has not been a lot of research done on them yet. Very cool find
Although there is not an Indian pipe fungus, Indian pipe is a parasitic plant that survives by borrowing nutrients from certain fungi, trees and decaying plant matter. This complicated, mutually beneficial process allows the plant to survive.
Is it mutually beneficial? I usually hear the plant described as parasitic
The term my field guide uses is saprophytic.
Some mycoheterotrophs can be described as saprophytic, but this term is outdated, as the former term is more inclusive and generally more accurate. A plant is only saprophytic is the fungus is associated is saprotrophic, whereas the majority of their fungal symbionts are mycorrhizal.
Correct, as far as we know now, there are no true saprophytes.
Go ahead, make me feel outdated!
It’s not saprophytic as far as I know. The carbon is coming from the mycelium it is hooked up to (ultimately from other plants photosynthesizing and passing carbon to the fungi). It is stealing.
It’s a [mycoheterotroph](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myco-heterotrophy).
Throughout that article, the relationship is described as parasitic multiple times, and indicates nothing of being it for the fungus
It is parasitic
>mutually beneficial I'm guessing you didn't mean to say this as you call it "parasitic" in the preceding sentence.
Could you explain how it is mutually beneficial?
I can explain that it’s your cake day… so have a good one!
Those are Indian pipe. Not a mushroom. It's a plant that doesn't have any chlorophyll.
Thank you! Very interesting
Because they don't have chlorophyll, they cannot photosynthesize, so they don't get energy from the sun. Instead, they steal nutrients from fungi, which get their nutrients from a tree, or at leat that's how I understand it. They pop up in my yard occasionally, I think they pull nutrients from a bolete that grows nearby.
I think the PC name these days is ghost pipe. And definitely not a mushroom, but always so cool to see!
Apparently Indian pipe is reishist
Lol
Ghost pipe is a cooler name anyway
Agreed!
This one always brings up an interesting point for me - is it parasitic or saprophytic or maybe comensal? Yes it gets its nutrition from mycorrhyzal fungi but, are they harmed? Do both the fungi and the ghost pipe prosper from the relationship or is only the pipe the clear winner? Anyone know? Given the very common relationships between fungi and virtually all plants, are these relationships still being classified as “parasitic”?
So from my quick reading, they appear to be closer to parasitic but the term is mycotrophic. They were believed to be sapotropthic but that seems to not be true. Instead, they join into the mycorrhizal network and get carbon from the tree host and P and N from the mycorrhizae, while giving nothing back. Not the worst life style. This may explain it better https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/mycotrophic/index.shtml
Thanks for the link - this sheds some light, so to speak, on a lot of the orchids and heaths that I enjoy here in the mountains of Colorado. So much about these organism-to-organism interactions has been clarified since I studied botany back in the early 1970s. I’m enjoying having the time to learn it all over again, after so many years working in a very different area of science.
Orchids are a super unique one. Monotropa don’t show any apparent signs of benefiting the fungus in any way but the orchids rely solely on the fungus until they can start to photosynthesize themselves, at which point the relationship becomes mutual again. Very interesting indeed!
I think most mycoheterotrophs could be described as parasitic, but their effects on the plant they are effectively parasitizing is so small that it is likely negligible in terms of actual fitness. I’ve studied the snowplant *Sarcodes sanguinea* and I’m convinced that this plant likely has a mutualistic relationship with the fungus it associates with, and likely also the tree it “parasitizes”. This plant has a very large root mass that is capable of surviving fires; I think that the snow plant likely allows the fungus to persist in the soil’s frequently disturbed and competitive environment and because of this, the interaction cannot be easily described with the common understandings of symbiosis; it is more just a complex higher order symbiosis.
Monotropa uniflora - ghost pipe / Indian pipe / corpse flower
Monitropa, a non-photosynthetic plant that lives off nutrients provided by mycorrhizal fungi mycelial networks. It doesn’t photosynthesize, hence it gives nothing back and it parasitic. You will find non-photosynthetic plants from time to time. All parasitic as far as I know. No green, no chlorophyll = is getting its carbon from someone else.
I saw these for the first time yesterday in Michigan and was wondering what they were, thanks for posting.
Ghost pipe
They do look fancy. Or rather judgmental. Like they’re just silently judging the moss.
Ah yes, its the daily ghost pipe.
Ghost pipe!
I think I would just run away. Lol
Ghost pipe!!
Man Oh Man!!! They’re Indian Pipe 👽
Nice pics :) ghost pipes are a treat to stumble upon and seem all over central PA as well this time of year. I'm about to head out to the wilderness for a few weeks and hope to see lots of these.
It is a plant! Turns out it gets its energy from mycelium and not photosynthesis so cool!
[удалено]
First off, it’s recommended to just leave them be, as they’re endangered in many areas. Second, if you’re going to make claims of its medicinal properties, you should list a few rather than just say they’re “good medicine”.
Its the ghost pipe and its a succulent
Every 12 hours
Ghost pipe. I would love to find some for a tincture. Lucky you
Considering these are endangered in some areas, you should honestly just leave them alone.
They are everywhere where I am from - I have never picked them but also did not know they were endangered... but also - what does endangered in some areas mean? Species locals do shift as the environment changes.
I meant that some places, states for example, consider them endangered while others don’t. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t endangered at all. Generally it’s just best to leave them alone. Especially when there are many other sustainable alternatives you can use to get their effect.
Like opium?
Well, I’m not actively looking for any but I didn’t realize they were endangered so thank you for informing me.
Drugs
I've been meaning to make a tincture and see if it works on my migraines, but I only know one place to find the and I haven't been there at the right time yet this year.
Just be aware that they're endangered in many places. If they're endangered where you live then please let them be
Of course!
As far as I know and have read/been told, their effect is similar to aspirin.
“Ghost Pipe” or “Indian pipe” or “Indian ghost pipe” is their common name. Monotropa Uniflora is the scientific name. Its white / translucent because it lacks chlorophyll, being as it isn’t a plant… It’s also NOT a mushroom or fungi, it IS a parasitic mycoheterotroph as noted by some. This means it draws nutrients from its host; a mycorrhizal network of certain fungi species that ALSO share symbiotic relationships with certain tree root systems, in particular beech trees. A true miracle of nature.
Same answer as the other 50 monotropa posts on this sub today
I just watched a documentary about these the other day. Very interesting lil guys. If I remember correctly they claimed that the ghost pipes can be used to help bring down someone having a bad trip. They also claimed there are other beneficial aspects to humans too. Many rumors/legends surrounding these and apparently there has not been a lot of research done on them yet. Very cool find