These ‘ghost flowers’ thrive without photosynthesis. One scientist is learning how Japanese botanist Kenji Suetsugu studies plants that steal carbon and nutrients from soil fungi David Malakoff 12:43 PM :heavy_check_mark:

Flowering plants that have given up on photosynthesis [via Science.org] 🧪👨‍🔬🥀❌🌞🔋

"they don’t rely on photosynthesis to survive, instead drawing carbon and nutrients from fungi buried in the soil."

www.science.org/content/arti...

#mycoheterotrophy #symbiotic #life #fungi

Five Mycena species that induce seed germination in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia The fungus genus Mycena is saprotrophic, but several lineages form orchid mycorrhizae or associate closely with plant roots. To elucidate which Mycena …

Five Mycena species that induce seed germination in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia

#Mycena
#mycoheterotrophicorchid
#Mycenaceae
#mycoheterotrophy
#orchidmycorrhizalfungi
#saprotroph
#symbioticseedgermination

www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/myco...

Clump of Thismia velaris

It is time to feed @bsky.app with some #Thismia😁
Please meet #Thismia dasyantha and T. velaris from Sarawak, north Borneo.
Published today in #Phytotaxa, read for free here phytotaxa.mapress.com/pt/article/v...
#newspecies #mycoheterotrophy

In the dense forests of Kuala Berang, #Terengganu, #Malaysia I had the privilege of spotting the elusive #Thismia alba-complex, a rare, #mycoheterotrophic plant often called a "fairy lantern."

#Biodiversity #Conservation #Rainforest #Thismia #Mycoheterotrophy #Fieldwork

Orchid's nutrient theft from fungi sheds light on photosynthesis-parasitism continuum Most orchids live in a symbiotic relationship with fungi in their roots: The plants provide sugar they produce through photosynthesis and in return receive water and minerals from the fungi. However, ...

#Orchid's #nutrient theft from f#ungi sheds light on #photosynthesis-#parasitism continuum.

#kleptophagy #kleptoparasitism #mycoheterotrophy #mycorrhizae

phys.org/news/2025-02...

Pink Ghost Pipes - Here's another favorite from July 2024. I had never seen pink ghost pipes.

Pink Ghost Pipes - Here's another favorite from July 2024. I had never seen pink ghost pipes. #Nature #NaturePhotography #GhostPipes #MycoHeterotrophy

Final stop in Thailand: Khao Yai National Park. Beautiful views and forests with giant members of the Burmanniaceae family: Burmannia disticha #mycoheterotrophy #mixotrophy @naturalis.bsky.social