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Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora) in Winneshiek County IA 653A5877

It's not hard to see why these pretty little Indian pipe flowers are often referred to as ghost plants. They contain no green chlorophyll to make energy from the sun and instead tap into certain mushroom mycelium for their food source. In return, they share some nutrients stored in their roots with the friendly Russula mushroom.

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Uploaded on August 31, 2021
Taken on August 30, 2021