Ivy Creek Natural Area Flowers:Indian PipeFamily Ericaeae, Monotropa unifloraAlthough it resembles a fungus, this is actually a wildflower but it does not use chlorophyll. As a saprophyte it uses a symbiotic relationship with a fungus on its roots to obtain food. This 3-inch to 12-inch tall plant is normally translucent white but tends to turn black within a few days. Indian Pipe usually grows in clusters in wooded areas in the summer.
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