Mycotrophic wildflowers are sometimes called “fungus flowers.” There are two characteristics these plant exhibit that are similar to fungi: their mode of obtaining water, minerals and carbohydrates; and, when the plant pushes up through the soil surface they have the appearance of a mushroom poking out of the ground.

Mycotrophic wildflowers of the heath family (Ericaceae)! “Myco” means fungus, and “trophic” means nutrition. These fascinating wildflowers have no chlorophyll and spend most of their lives underground, only poking their heads up through the soil to flower and set seed. Like enigmas from fairy tales of old, they come in a variety of colors, reds, yellows, white, pinks, and browns. They are most often found under thick layers of leaf litter in deep-shaded forest floors.

Mycotrophic wildflowers are found in habitats characterized by dense overstory canopies and deep leaf litter. In these habitats of deep shade, mycotrophic wildflowers have little competition from their green cousins, who need sunlight to photosynthesize food.

These plants obtain their organic carbon from a host green plant by tapping into an intermediary mycorrhizal fungus attached to the roots of the host plant. Many plant families include mycotrophs, especially in the tropics. In temperate North America, the orchid (Orchidaceae) and heath (Ericaceae) families include the highest numbers of mycotrophic genera. Coralroot orchids such as striped coralroot (Corallorhiza striata) and spring coralroot (Corallorhiza wisteriana), are included in but one of many orchid genera that are mycotrophs.

Allotropa virgata – Sugarstick

Allotropa virgata (Allotropa – turned differently; virgata – rod) refers to the flowers turned outward or upward. Sugarsticks attains a height of 50 centimeters or less. The plant is glabrous. The leaves are scale-like on the flower stalk (peduncle). The flower stalk is distinct in its white and red or maroon stripes from which the common name Sugarstick follows. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are white and are turned outward or upward. The fruit is a capsule. Once ripened, seed is released through a slit occurring from the base to the tip.

The plant is persistent after the seeds have dispersed.

Hemitomes congestum – Gnome Plant

Hemitomes congestum (Hemitomes – half a eunuch from one anther containing no pollen; congestum- crowded from the densely flowered inflorescence).

Hemitomes congestum attains a height of 2 to 10 centimeters. The plant is fleshy and mostly glabrous. The leaves are scale-like on the flower stalk (peduncle). The flower stalk is pink or cream. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are cream or pink and pubescent inside. The fruit is a fleshy berry and has a strong musky or cheesy odor that may be attractive to small mammals. The plant is not persistent after the berry has ripened. The Gome plant flowers from early to mid summer. It is found in mature, moist, shaded mixed or coniferous forests from 30 to 2,700 meters.

Monotropa hypopitys – Pinesap, Dutchman’s Pipe

Monotropa hypopitys (Monotropa – once turned; hypopitys – under the pine or fir from its habitat) ranges in height from 10 to 35 centimeters. The entire plant is a pale creamy white, coral pink or red. The leaves are scale-like and occur along the flower stalk (peduncle). The inflorescence is a raceme of 2 to 11 flowers at the tip of the flower stalk. Upon emerging from the ground, the flowers are pendant. As the anthers and stigma mature, the flowers are spreading to all most perpendicular to the stem. The fruit is a capsule. As the capsule matures, the flowers become erect. Once ripened, seed is released through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsules. The plant is persistent after the seeds have dispersed.

Monotropa uniflora – Ghost Plant, Indian Pipe

Monotropa uniflora (Monotropa – once turned; uniflora – one flowered) ranges in height from 10 to 30 centimeters. The entire plant is a translucent, “ghostly” white, sometimes pale pinkish-white and commonly has black flecks. The leaves are scale-like and flecked with black on the flower stalk (peduncle). As the Latin epithet uniflora implies, the stem bears a single flower. Upon emerging from the ground, the flower is pendant (downwardly pointed). As the anthers and stigma mature, the flower is spreading to all most perpendicular to the stem. The fruit is a capsule. As the capsule matures, the flower becomes erect (in line with the stem). Once ripened, seed is released through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsule. The plant is persistent after seed dispersal.

Sarcodes sanguinea – Snow Plant

Sarcodes sanguinea (Sarcodes – flesh-like as to the inflorescence; sanguinea – blood as to the color of the plant) ranges in height from 15 to 30 centimeters. The plant is a brilliant scarlet red except for the maturing fruit that is pinkish-red. It is fleshy and glandular pubescent. The leaves are scale-like. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are pendant. The fruit is a capsule containing sticky seeds. Once ripened, seed is released through an opening at the base of the style.

Pterospora andromedea – Pinedrops

Terospora andromedea (Pterospora – winged seed; andromedea – from the nodding reddish to white flowers that are similar to the flowers of Andromeda polifolia) ranges in height from 30 to 100 centimeters, although it can occasionally attain a height of 2 meters. It is the tallest species of the mycotrophic wildflowers in the Heath family (Ericaceae). The plant is densely glandular pubescent. The leaves are scale-like. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are pendant. The fruit is a capsule. Once ripened, seed is released through a slit occurring from the base to the tip.

Pleuricospora fimbriolata –Fringed Pinesap

Pleuricospora fimbriolata (Pleuricospora – seeds at side from the location of the seeds in the ovary; fimbriolata fringed with very fine hairs from the hairs on the tip of the sepal).

Pleuricospora fimbriolata attains a height of 6 to 10 centimeters. The plant is fleshy and glabrous. There are no leaves. The flower stalk (peduncle) is creamy yellow. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are cream or pink and pubescent inside. The fruit is a fleshy berry. The plant is not persistent after the berry has ripened.

Pityopus californicus –California Pinefoot

Pityopus californicus (Pityopus – Pine foot from it’s habitat) is the smallest of the mycotrophic wildflowers in the Heath family. It ranges in height from 1to 10 centimeters. The entire plant is a pale creamy white. The leaves are crowded and scale-like on the flower stalk (peduncle). The inflorescence is a raceme of 2 to 11 flowers at the tip of the stem. Upon emerging from the ground, the flowers are pendant. As the anthers and stigma mature, the flowers are spreading to all most perpendicular to the stem. The fruit is a capsule. As the capsule matures, the flowers become erect. Once ripened, seed is released through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsules. The plant is not persistent after seed dispersal.

Pityopus californicus flowers from early summer to mid autumn. It is found in mature, moist, shaded, mixed or coniferous forests up to 1,800 meters in elevation.

Monotropsis odorata –Sweet Pinesap

Monotropsis odorata (Monotropsis – like Montropa from its physical appearance being similar to the genus Monotropa; odorata – odor from its strong odor of violets; sometimes being smelled before being sighted).

Monotropsis odorata attains a height of 5 to 10 centimeters. The plant is fleshy. The leaves are scale like. The flower stalk (peduncle) is purplish brown. The inflorescence is a nodding cluster of flowers at the top of the flower stalk. The flowers are pink or yellowish and pubescent inside. Upon emerging from the ground, the flowers are pendant. As the anthers and stigma mature, the flowers are spreading to all most perpendicular to the stem. The fruit is a capsule. As the capsule matures, the flowers become erect. Once ripened, seed is released through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsules. The plant is persistent after the seeds have dispersed.