19137

These associations between fungi and parasitic plants also exist in North America. These include plants in the wintergreen family, such as Indian pipe, pinesap, and sweet pinesap. A common fungus associated with these plants is an Ascomycete that forms a subterranean structure commonly called a deer truffle. There is also a small genus of orchids, called coralroots, that obtains the majority of its nutrition from a mycorrhizal association with soil fungi.

Joseph M. Strong
Elyria, Ohio