Living off the dead or unsuspecting: a botanical example

From a human perspective, we all are familiar with the term parasite. We think of tape worms, leeches, head lice, for example... all the wonderful things that literally suck the life from its host.

And when we think of decaying matter, it may bring to mind a log in the bush that eventually gets mechanically chipped away by woodpeckers, ants, termites, and then chemically eaten by the bacterial and fungal mats that take over and eventually convert every last little bit of organic material into a form of usable energy.

In both of these examples, we don't think of unassuming, innocently green, immobile plants playing a part in any of these unattractive lifestyles. We think of them photosynthesizing, using the sun's energy to make sugars, providing us with food and oxygen in our atmosphere, lending us shade, or stable structures for us to hang our hammocks from. Yet, here I have some botanical examples that assume these unusual roles to sustain life.

Delving into the terminology, us biologist have two groups that describe lifestyle: autotrophic and heterotrophic. Autotrophs are organisms that make their own energy, such as plants that photosynthesize. Heterotrophs are organisms that get their energy from other organisms. Under the umbrella of heterotrophic, we can narrow it down to saprophytic or parasitic.

Western Coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata  ssp. mertensiana is one of our native orchids. It lacks the green colour that is caused by chlorophyll, the pigment used in photosynthesis. It's a saprophyte, so it derives its nutrients from decaying organic material. This specimen was found on Lasqueti island and has gone to seed, so it was difficult identifying it as an orchid. Specimens can be purplish like this one,

Or light pink/tan, like this one.

Pinesap, Hypopitys monotropa, is another saprophyte, typically found growing in coniferous forests. Its common name is said to be derived from its resemblance to the colour of pine sap. 

Notice the leaves are scale-like and lacking green pigment, indicating a shift from autotrophism to hetertrophism. These plants are closely related to the plants below. 

Indian Pipe, Monotropa uniflora, is a very unusual parasitic plant that has its roots connected via fungi to the roots of coniferous trees, and obtains its nutrients from the photosynthesizing conifer. When I first encountered these specimens, I was very confused as to what group they belonged to: plant or fungi.

My question was answered upon closer inspection. As I peeled away the white flower petals, I observed characteristic flower parts: the many stamen (male parts) with yellow pollen as its tips that surrounded the large carpel (female part) in the center.

Vancouver Groundcone, Boschiniakia hookeri, are parasitic on salal (also seen in this picture) roots. Unlike the Indian Pipe, they are directly connected to the salal roots, leaving out the fungal middle man. The roots of the Vancouver Groundcone are fleshy and were sometimes eaten by Natives in the region. A single Groundcone has been reported to produce over 30 million seeds. I recall when I first saw one before it had gone to seed (as this one has), and it looked like a strange, purple, upright coniferous pine cone. 

All these specimens were found on my father's land on Lasqueti Island. It is wonderful to know that these unusual plants are flourishing there.

Hope you enjoyed and please ask any questions you may have.

-Barnacle Babe