The story starts with a common mutually beneficial relationship between a soil fungus and a tree. The fungus passes minerals to the tree and the tree passes sugars and other complex molecules to the fungus. This is a relationship that the Indian Pipe exploits: It persuades the fungus to give up some of the sugars obtained from the tree, but it offers nothing in return. By taking the chlorophyll-produced sugars from the tree, albeit via the fungus, the Indian Pipe can survive on the dark forest floor where other plants often struggle for light.<\/p>\n
From the point of view of a pollinator, a flower is a flower, and the Indian Pipe produces both nectar and pollen. Consequently, bees appreciate it just as they would any other flower.<\/p>\n
A Half-black Bumblebee forages among the white flowers of an Indian Pipe. The pollen sacks on its back legs are packed with the yellow pollen of its flowers.
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The Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) is an interesting plant — it lacks chlorophyll. Yet, it thrives in rare locations on the forest floor where it has carved out a niche which does not require it to have access to … Continue reading