Spooky flowers!

Image revised from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Monotropa_Uniflora_National_Forest_45_Oregon.JPG

The ghost flower Monotropa uniflora is a freaky organism. Its often mistaked for being some kind of fungus but it is truly a plant, although a plant that lacks chlorophyll! Instead of getting energy from sunlight, it takes carbonic compounds (i.e. sugars) from a mycelial fungi that in turn has taken advantage of a photosyntetic plant though symbiosis. This sneaky way of getting nutrients is known as mycoheterotrophy. Since the ghost flower doesn't need sunlight it can actually grow in the dark. If you don't think that is cool, you're not my friend.


Image revised from http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/DukesTrail/index.shtml

Being all white and pretty, its tempting to pick a bouquet and bring home but this is not a good idea. Due to its dependance on other organism for energy, the plant will wither away in just a few hours.



Image revised from http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Monotropa_uniflora_page.html

Sources: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2005/07/monotropa_unifl.php http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/Mycorrhizas_5.html