A Colorless Flower???
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A Colorless Flower???
Found these flowers (I think) growing in the very deep shaded woods near where I was working back in July. Very translucent & pale structure and the woods were very wet. I think I was looking for slime molds and came across these. The third picture I took a couple of days later, the 'flowers were erect and they do look like they have all the internal parts to be a flower. Any of you have an idea (or ID) on these strange looking growths. The tallest one in pic 2 is about 4.5" in height and the flower is about 3/8ths " in diameter.
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda
Doug Breda
They are "Indian Pipes" Doug Sometimes referred to as the "Corpse Flower" also. They are somewhat like a fungus, though they are considered a wildflower. They have no chlorophyll and therefore must obtain their nourishment from decomposing organic matter. Some really good shots of these Doug, I looked for them myself today, while roaming the mountains, though I did not find any.
- Bruce Williams
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You've done a good job with these pics Doug - translucent white is IMO very difficult to capture as it is so easy to blow the highlights and more. Hmmm the more I look at these pics the more I like em!
That's interesting information Ken that sent me straighway winging through my wildflower books. Sadly, nothing like it in the flora poor UK (pls correct me anyone if I'm wrong).
Good posting about an unusual plant.
Bruce
That's interesting information Ken that sent me straighway winging through my wildflower books. Sadly, nothing like it in the flora poor UK (pls correct me anyone if I'm wrong).
Good posting about an unusual plant.
Bruce
Thanks Bruce. Here is some more info I dug up, and thanks again Ken for the quick ID on this strange flowering plant.
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html
Last edited by beetleman on Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda
Doug Breda
- Planapo
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Interesting find and photographically very well documented, Doug.
And to comfort Bruce : Monotropa species do occur in our European flora too, including the UK . And besides, there are other parasitic flowering plants that were able to afford to reduce their chlorophyll/chloroplasts totally during evolution like Cuscuta or Orobanche.
Cheers,
Betty
And to comfort Bruce : Monotropa species do occur in our European flora too, including the UK . And besides, there are other parasitic flowering plants that were able to afford to reduce their chlorophyll/chloroplasts totally during evolution like Cuscuta or Orobanche.
Cheers,
Betty
I did a quick look up on Bettys "Cuscuta Spp" plants. Very interesting plants IMO...check this out:
http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/dodder.htm
http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/dodder.htm
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda
Doug Breda