Family Monotropaceae

Family Monotropaceae

The Indian Pipe Family (Monotropaceae) has 12 species that do not have the green pigment chlorophyll which enables most plants to manufacture their own food. Some species are parasites. Others get the nutrients they need from decaying vegetable matter in the soil and are known as "saprophytes". A fungus grows around the roots and this association between the outer layers of the saprophyte and the fungal threads is called a "mycorrhiza". Both the fungus and the plant benefit from this co-operation. [CH] {EN}