DOCSLIB.ORG

Monotropa Uniflora: Morphological and Molecular Assessment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Monotropa Uniflora: Morphological and Molecular Assessment Mycorrhiza (2002) 12:75–82 DOI 10.1007/s00572-001-0153-6 ORIGINAL PAPER B. W. Young · H.B. Massicotte · L.E. Tackaberry Q.F. Baldwin · K.N. Egger Monotropa uniflora: morphological and molecular assessment of mycorrhizae retrieved from sites in the Sub-Boreal Spruce biogeoclimatic zone in central British Columbia Accepted: 16 November 2001 / Published online: 20 February 2002 © Springer-Verlag 2002 Abstract Plant species in the subfamily Monotropoideae Keywords Indian-Pipe · Monotropoid · Specificity · are achlorophyllous and have developed a complex mode PCR-RFLP · DNA sequencing of nutrition, receiving photosynthates from neighboring trees via shared fungi. To explore the mycorrhizal associ- ations of Monotropa uniflora in central British Columbia Introduction (B.C.), plants were sampled from three sites: a Betula- dominated site and two sites with a mixture of conifer Achlorophyllous angiosperms that obtain nutrients and and hardwood trees. Fifteen M. uniflora root-clusters organic carbon by penetrating the roots of other plants were sampled (five per site) and the mycorrhizal diversity through the development of haustoria are regarded as was assessed using morphological and molecular (PCR- parasites (Kamienski 1882; Furman and Trappe 1971; RFLP analysis and DNA sequencing) methods. Both Leake 1994). However, among the vascular plants, more methods showed that root-clusters (often comprising sev- than 400 species (in 87 genera) are achlorophyllous and eral hundred mycorrhizal tips) belonging to the same heterotrophic, but do not directly parasitize autotrophic plant appeared to involve fungus monocultures in the species (Leake 1994). These plants are mycoheterotro- family Russulaceae. All mycorrhizae exhibited typical phic, depending on carbon compounds obtained via Russula morphology and had mantle cystidia. Two root- fungus linkages to autotrophic host plants (Furman and clusters, one each from sites 1 and 3, lacked one of the Trappe 1971; Molina et al. 1992; Leake 1994). The two types of cystidia present on all other root-clusters. achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic condition appears to PCR-RFLP analysis resulted in three fragment patterns have evolved independently numerous times within for the 15 root clusters. One molecular fragment pattern widely disparate taxonomic groups. Nevertheless, these included the two root-clusters displaying the single cys- plants exhibit strong convergent evolution with respect tidium type plus an additional root-cluster with both cys- to adaptations to a unique ecological niche, often com- tidia types. DNA sequencing of a portion of the ITS2 re- prising dense moist forests with a surface accumulation gion of the ribosomal DNA suggests that the three vari- of organic litter and limited light for autotrophic growth ants represent different species; two of the variants clus- (Leake 1994). Biological and anatomical attributes of tered with the hypogeous fungi Martellia and Gym- mycoheterotrophic plants, including Monotropa, have nomyces. The study provides increased evidence of low been described by Leake (1994) and Harley (1969). diversity and high specificity in the Monotropa-fungus re- Monotropa uniflora L. is classified in a subfamily of lationship and suggests that M. uniflora associates unique- the Ericaceae, the Monotropoideae, which consists of ly with fungi in the family Russulaceae in central B.C. 10 genera, comprising 12 species, all of which are achlorophyllous and mycoheterotrophic (Wallace 1975). H.B. Massicotte (✉) · L.E. Tackaberry · Q.F. Baldwin · Placement of the Monotropoideae within the Ericaceae K.N. Egger has been debated for many years (Wallace 1975); Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, however, recent molecular studies of partial 28S ribo- College of Science and Management, somal RNA gene sequences support this classification University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, (Cullings and Bruns 1992). Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9 e-mail: [email protected] Monotropoid mycorrhizae resemble angiosperm ecto- Fax: +1-250-9605538 mycorrhizae by possessing a thick fungus sheath and B.W. Young a Hartig net that is restricted to the epidermal layer Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, (Duddridge 1985; Molina et al. 1992). They differ from University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4 ectomycorrhizae by the development of characteristic 76 fungus pegs in the epidermal cells (Lutz and Sjolund Materials and methods 1973; Duddridge and Read 1982; Robertson and Robertson 1982). Based on this distinct morphology, these mycor- Site locations and sampling procedures rhizae have been placed in their own class of ‘monotrop- Three sites (approximately 54° 07′ N latitude and 122° 04′ longi- oid’ mycorrhizae (Duddridge and Read 1982). tude) containing numerous M. uniflora plants were located in the The non-photosynthetic achlorophyllous condition of SBS biogeoclimatic zone (Meidinger et al. 1991) in central British Monotropa has led to numerous investigations that ulti- Columbia. Two sites were in forested areas within the city limits of mately revealed the fungus associations of Monotropa Prince George: one was dominated by mature Betula papyrifera (Kamienski 1882; Trappe and Berch 1985). Elias Fries is Marsh., the other by a mixture of conifer and hardwood species. A third site, another mixed conifer/hardwood stand, was located ap- generally credited as the first to recognize the fungal na- proximately 15 km west of Prince George in a forested area in the ture of the ensheathing outer root layer (Trappe and town of Miworth. Plants were collected at weekly intervals through Berch 1985). Almost 40 years later, Kamienski (1882) the month of July and the first week of August 1997, resulting in a produced an elegant paper critically evaluating Mono- total of 15 root clusters, five from each of the three sites. Monotropa flowering stems emerged in early July and this was expected to co- tropa mycorrhizae and describing in detail the fungus incide with mycorrhiza development. Root-clusters were harvested sheath of M. hypopitys L. roots. He suggested that nutri- with the surrounding soil and stored at 5°C for up to 1 week until ents must pass via the mycelium to the host root cells examined. Potential mycorrhizal host trees were identified on each and that the mycorrhizal fungus could be attached via site and fungus sporocarps in the genus Russula were sampled on mycelial bridges to autotrophic trees. the sites at the same time that root-clusters were harvested. The identity of fungus symbionts, host specificity and habitat requirements for many of the Monotropoideae re- Mycorrhiza and sporocarp characterization main largely unknown (Leake 1994); however, some Immediately prior to mycorrhiza assessment, roots were soaked in members appear highly specific in their fungus associa- cold water to facilitate the removal of soil and organic debris. Ini- tions, including two Monotropa spp. which may be spe- tial morphological characterization of mycorrhizae was made cialists: M. hypopitys associates with suilloid fungi and using a dissecting microscope. Each large root-cluster (Figs. 1, 2) was divided into smaller sections (4–8) for ease of examination. M. uniflora associates with fungi in the Russulaceae A minimum of 10 tips per section were examined and described (Cullings et al. 1996). Fungus symbionts described in the according to the protocols of Ingleby et al. (1990), Agerer literature for M. uniflora include Boletus spp. (Riley (1987–1998), Goodman et al. (1996) and Massicotte et al. (1999). 1971), Armillaria mellea (Vahl:Fr.) Kumm. (Campbell Squash mounts and hand sections (mounted in water or 5% KOH) × 1971), the order Helotiales (Ascomycotina) (Riley and were examined to determine microscopic features (100–1000 Olympus CH-2 compound microscope). Ten turgid root tips that Eichenmuller 1970), Pezizella spp. (Riley 1971; Riley appeared to have intact meristems were harvested from each root- et al. 1977), Hymenoscyphus monotropae Kernan & cluster and frozen at –20°C for subsequent molecular analysis. Finocchio (Helotiales) (Kernan and Finocchio 1983) and Sporocarps were characterized to genus and fresh morphologi- the Russulaceae (Martin 1986; Cullings et al. 1993, cal characters recorded. Approximately 1 ml of fungus tissue was sampled from selected sporocarps and frozen at –20°C for subse- 1996). Suspected fungus associates for other species quent molecular analysis; dried sporocarp samples were kept as within the Monotropoideae include Elaphomyces spp. potential voucher specimens in case a match was found between (Reess 1885; Castellano and Trappe 1985), Boletus spp. sporocarp and root samples. (Francke 1934; Khan 1972), Tricholoma spp. (Martin 1986), Truncocolumella citrina (Zeller) Singer & Smith PCR-RFLP molecular analysis (Castellano and Trappe 1985), Rhizopogon vinicolor Smith, Cenococcum geophilum Fr., species in the DNA was extracted from mycorrhizae and sporocarps using a CTAB protocol (Baldwin and Egger 1996). PCR was used to am- Cantharellaceae, and suilloid taxa (Rhizopogon and Suillus spp.) (Cullings et al. 1993, 1996). Mycorrhizal tree hosts potentially forming linkages with M. uniflora Figs. 1–6 Monotropa uniflora roots colonized by mycorrhizal L and completing the tripartite relationship include the fol- fungi lowing genera and species: Pinus and Abies (Björkman Fig. 1 Typical Monotropa cluster of hundreds of mycorrhizal root 1960), Tsuga, Quercus and Acer (Furman 1966), Carya, tips (arrowheads) from which
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Monotropa Hypopitys L. Yellow Bird's-Nest
    Monotropa hypopitys L. Yellow Bird's-nest Starting references Family Monotropaceae IUCN category (2001) Endangered. Habit Saprophytic ± chlorophyll-less perennial herb. Habitat Leaf litter in shaded woodlands, most frequent under Fagus and Corylus on calcareous substrates, and under Pinus on more acidic soils. Also in damp dune-slacks, where it is usually associated with Salix repens. From 0-395 m. Reasons for decline Distribution in wild Country Locality & Vice County Sites Population (10km2 occurences) (plants) Scotland East Perth 1 Fife & Kinross 1 England North-east Yorkshire 1 West Lancashire 1 S. Northumberland 1 Leicestershire 1 Nottinghamshire 2 Derbyshire 2 S. Lancashire 5 Westmorland 2 South Devon 1 N. Somerset 3 S. Wiltshire 2 Dorset 1 Isle of Wight 2 Hampshire 10 Sussex 3 Kent 3 Surrey 6 Berkshire 5 Oxfordshire 5 Buckinghamshire 4 Suffolk 2 Norfolk 5 Bedfordshire 1 Northamptonshire 1 Gloucestershire 7 Monmouthshire 3 Herefordshire 1 Worcestershire 1 Warwickshire 1 Staffordshire 2 Shropshire 1 Wales Glamorgan 1 Carmarthenshire 4 Merioneth 2 Denbighshire 2 Anglesey 4 Ex situ Collections Gardens close to the region of distribution of the species 1 University of Dundee Botanic Garden 2 Branklyn Garden (NTS) 3 St Andrews Botanic Garden 4 Moor Bank Garden 5 University of Durham Botanic Garden 6 Yorkshire Museum & Gardens 7 Sheffield Botanical Gardens 8 Firs Botanical Grounds 9 University of Manchester Botanical & Exp. Grounds 10 City of Liverpool Botanic Gardens 11 Ness Botanic Gardens 12 Chester Zoological Gardens 13 Treborth Botanic
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award, 2019 Testing the influence of land-use history and forest stand age on the distribution and abundance of parasitic plants at multiple scales Marion Andrews Holmes Background The herbaceous layer makes up over 80% of the plant biodiversity in Eastern Forests and includes a wide variety of life history adaptations (Spicer et al. 2020). Some species found on the forest floor do not conduct photosynthesis, but rather obtain carbon from other organisms. The category of non-photosynthetic plants includes both parasitic species and saprophytes, or plants that feed on dead material. Parasitic relationships may be formed with other vascular plant species or through mycoheterotrophy, a form of parasitism in which species obtain carbon through networks of mycorrhizal fungi (Furman and Trappe 1971, Bidartondo 2005, Leake and Cameron 2010). Some parasites of vascular plants also require the presence of fungal partners for successful establishment (Baird and Riopel 1986). Parasitic plants contribute to ground-layer biodiversity, support wildlife (Johnson et al. 1995), and are a useful model system for testing the influence of host and symbiont- limitation in forest succession. Most deciduous forest in Eastern North America and Northern Europe is second-growth that has regrown after clearance for agriculture and subsequent abandonment (Williams 1989, Hermy and Verheyen 2007). It is therefore necessary to place our understanding of forest ecology in the context of land-use history (Foster et al. 2003). Land-use legacies shape the structure and composition of modern forests, and their effects may last for centuries (Motzkin et al. 1996, Dupouey et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Pigment Composition of Putatively Achlorophyllous Angiosperms
    Plant Pl. Syst. Evol. 210:105-111 (1998) Systematics and Evolution © Springer-Verlag 1998 Printed in Austria Pigment composition of putatively achlorophyllous angiosperms MICHAEL P. CUMMINGS and NICHOLAS A. WELSCHMEYER Received August 15, 1996; in revised version February 10, 1997 Key words: Angiospermae, Lennoaceae, Monotropaceae, Orobanchaceae, Orchidaceae. - Chlorophyll, carotenoid, pigment, high-performance liquid chromatography. Abstract: Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment composition was determined for ten species of putatively achlorophyllous angiosperms using high-performance liquid chromatography. Four families were represented: Lennoaceae (Pholisma arenarium); Monotropaceae (Allotropa virgata, Monotropa uniflora, Pterospora andromedea, Sarcodes sanguinea); Orobanchaceae (Epifagus virginiana, Orobanche cooperi, O. unißora); Orchidaceae (Cephalanthera austinae, Corallorhiza maculata). Chlorophyll a was detected in all taxa, but chlorophyll b was only detected in Corallorhiza maculata. The relative amount of chlorophyll and chlorophyll-related pigments in these plants is greatly reduced compared to fully autotrophic angiosperms. One of the most conspicuous features of plants is green coloration conferred by the presence of the pigment chlorophyll. However achlorophyllous plants, as their name implies, are thought to lack chlorophyll and other pigments associated with photosynthesis. This lack of chlorophyll is thought to be associated with the nonphotosynthetic habit, and hence the completely heterotrophic nature of holoparasites
    [Show full text]
  • Invisible Connections: Introduction to Parasitic Plants Dr
    Invisible Connections: Introduction to Parasitic Plants Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp Towson University What is a parasite? • An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense. Symbiosis https://www.superpharmacy.com.au/blog/parasites-protozoa-worms-ectoparasites Food acquisition in plants: Autotrophy Heterotrophs (“different feeding”) • True parasites: obtain carbon compounds from host plants through haustoria. • Myco-heterotrophs: obtain carbon compounds from host plants via Image Credit: Flickr User wackybadger, via CC mycorrhizal fungal connection. • Carnivorous plants (not parasitic): obtain nutrients (phosphorus, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pin nitrogen) from trapped insects. k_indian_pipes.jpg http://www.welivealot.com/venus-flytrap- facts-for-kids/ Parasite vs. Epiphyte https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/12/does-mistletoe-harm-trees-2/ By © Hans Hillewaert /, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6289695 True Parasitic Plants • Gains all or part of its nutrition from another plant (the host). • Does not contribute to the benefit of the host and, in some cases, causing extreme damage to the host. • Specialized peg-like root (haustorium) to penetrate host plants. https://www.britannica.com/plant/parasitic-plant https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/12/does-mistletoe-harm-trees-2/ Diversity of parasitic plants Eudicots • Parasitism has evolved independently at least 12 times within the plant kingdom. • Approximately 4,500 parasitic species in Monocots 28 families. • Found in eudicots and basal angiosperms • 1% of the dicot angiosperm species • No monocot angiosperm species Basal angiosperms Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 2016.67:643-667 True Parasitic Plants https://www.alamy.com/parasitic-dodder-plant-cuscuta-showing-penetration-parasitic-haustor The defining structural feature of a parasitic plant is the haustorium.
    [Show full text]
  • Pityopus Californicus (Eastw.) H.F
    Pityopus californicus (Eastw.) H.F. Copel. synonym: Monotropa californica Eastw., Pityopus californica (Eastw.) H.F. Copel., Pityopus oregonus Small pine-foot Monotropaceae - indian pipe family status: State Threatened, BLM strategic, USFS strategic rank: G4G5 / S1 General Description: Perennial, saprophytic fleshy herb with brittle roots and unbranched stems; pinkish, cream-colored or yellowish, drying to black; 1-10 cm. Leaves scalelike, nongreen, and sessile. Floral Characteristics: Inflorescence a terminal raceme or solitary flowers, emerging from the soil erect, not persistent after seed dispersal. Flowers axillary, bracted. Sepals 4-5, free, the lateral 2 often folded, clasping the corolla, the others lying flat against the corolla. Petals 4-5, free, cylindric, cream-colored to yellowish; the outside of the corolla is more or less hairless, the inside is densely hairy. Stamens generally 8, with erect, horseshoe-shaped anthers, unawned, dehiscent by 1 unified slit. Styles less than 5 mm long, stigma less than 5 mm wide, funnel-shaped, yellowish, subtended by a ring of hairs. O vary chamber 1, but may appear greater than 1 due to intrusion of parietal placentation. Fruits: Berries less than 1 cm. Identifiable June to July. Identif ication Tips: There is only one species of Pityopus in the Pacific Northwest. Pleuricos pora fimbriolata is related, but its flowers are hairless inside and out; its anthers are elongate (3-4 mm) and not horseshoe-shaped; and its stigma is less than 2.5 mm wide, crownlike, and not subtended by hairs. In contrast, the flowers of Pityopus californicus are densely hairy inside; its anthers are horseshoe-shaped and not elongate; and its stigma is less than 5 mm wide, more or less funnel-shaped, and subtended by a ring of hairs.
    [Show full text]
  • RNA-Seq Highlights Parallel and Contrasting Patterns in the Evolution of the Nuclear Genome of Fully Mycoheterotrophic Plants Mikhail I
    Schelkunov et al. BMC Genomics (2018) 19:602 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-018-4968-3 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access RNA-seq highlights parallel and contrasting patterns in the evolution of the nuclear genome of fully mycoheterotrophic plants Mikhail I. Schelkunov1* , Aleksey A. Penin1,2,3 and Maria D. Logacheva1,4,5* Abstract Background: While photosynthesis is the most notable trait of plants, several lineages of plants (so-called full heterotrophs) have adapted to obtain organic compounds from other sources. The switch to heterotrophy leads to profound changes at the morphological, physiological and genomic levels. Results: Here, we characterize the transcriptomes of three species representing two lineages of mycoheterotrophic plants: orchids (Epipogium aphyllum and Epipogium roseum) and Ericaceae (Hypopitys monotropa). Comparative analysis is used to highlight the parallelism between distantly related fully heterotrophic plants. In both lineages, we observed genome-wide elimination of nuclear genes that encode proteins related to photosynthesis, while systems associated with protein import to plastids as well as plastid transcription and translation remain active. Genes encoding components of plastid ribosomes that have been lost from the plastid genomes have not been transferred to the nuclear genomes; instead, some of the encoded proteins have been substituted by homologs. The nuclear genes of both Epipogium species accumulated nucleotide substitutions twice as rapidly as their photosynthetic relatives; in contrast, no increase in the substitution rate was observed in H. monotropa. Conclusions: Full heterotrophy leads to profound changes in nuclear gene content. The observed increase in the rate of nucleotide substitutions is lineage specific, rather than a universal phenomenon among non-photosynthetic plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Additions to the New Flora of Vermont
    Gilman, A.V. Additions to the New Flora of Vermont. Phytoneuron 2016-19: 1–16. Published 3 March 2016. ISSN 2153 733X ADDITIONS TO THE NEW FLORA OF VERMONT ARTHUR V. GILMAN Gilman & Briggs Environmental 1 Conti Circle, Suite 5, Barre, Vermont 05641 [email protected] ABSTRACT Twenty-two species of vascular plants are reported for the state of Vermont, additional to those reported in the recently published New Flora of Vermont. These are Agrimonia parviflora, Althaea officinalis , Aralia elata , Beckmannia syzigachne , Bidens polylepis , Botrychium spathulatum, Carex panicea , Carex rostrata, Eutrochium fistulosum , Ficaria verna, Hypopitys lanuginosa, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus diffusissimus, Linum striatum, Lipandra polysperma , Matricaria chamomilla, Nabalus racemosus, Pachysandra terminalis, Parthenocissus tricuspidata , Ranunculus auricomus , Rosa arkansana , and Rudbeckia sullivantii. Also new are three varieties: Crataegus irrasa var. irrasa , Crataegus pruinosa var. parvula , and Viola sagittata var. sagittata . Three species that have been reported elsewhere in 2013–2015, Isoetes viridimontana, Naias canadensis , and Solidago brendiae , are also recapitulated. This report and the recently published New Flora of Vermont (Gilman 2015) together summarize knowledge of the vascular flora of Vermont as of this date. The New Flora of Vermont was recently published by The New York Botanical Garden Press (Gilman 2015). It is the first complete accounting of the vascular flora of Vermont since 1969 (Seymour 1969) and adds more than 200 taxa to the then-known flora of the state. However, the manuscript for the New Flora was finalized in spring 2013 and additional species are now known: those that have been observed more recently, that have been recently encountered (or re-discovered) in herbaria, or that were not included because they were under study at the time of finalization.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterospora Andromedea Nutt
    Pterospora andromedea Nutt. pine-drops State Distribution Best Survey Period Photo by Daniel C. Nepstad Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Status: State threatened indicated as ‘rare.’ Seventeen occurrences occur on public lands or designated preserves. None of these occurrences, Global and state rank: G5/S2 however, are under specific active protection. Family: Monotropaceae (Indian-pipe) Recognition: Pine-drop lacks chlorophyll and has one to several simple, erect stems, from 3-10 dm tall, bearing Other common names: giant birds nest, Albany beech- numerous scale-like leaves and a terminal raceme of drops numerous nodding flowers. The approx. 6-7 mm long , Synonyms: Monotropa procera Torr. bell-shaped corolla is white while the sepals and vegeta- tive parts of the plant are reddish to maroon. The stem Taxonomy: Pterospora andromeda is the only species in and sepals are glandular-hairy giving the plant a its genus (monotypic). Sometimes included in the clammy-sticky feel. The similar, but more widespread and Pyrolaceae or Ericaceae under subfamily Pyrolaceae, common species Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe) and M. Pterospora and other species of the Monotropaceae differ hypopithys (pinesap), also lack chlorophyll, but are in their saprophytic (absorb nutrients from dead or decay- typically one half the size of Pterospora or smaller. In ing matter) habit (Voss 1996). addition, the flowers of both Indian pipe and pinesap become erect in fruit, unlike the strongly nodding fruits of Total range: A species primarily of Western North Pterospora. Indian pipe also differs in bearing only a America, pine drops is disjunct in the Great Lakes region single large flower on each stem.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring Wildflowers of the Westchester Wilderness
    FLOWERING PLANTS WITHOUT CHLOROPHYLL IN THE PRESERVE S.A. Mori, R.F.C. Naczi & M. Rothman Last update: 11 November 2018 As far as we know there are only four species of flowering plants in the Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family Preserve that lack chlorophyll. Dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) was previously placed in the Cuscutaceae but, based on molecular and morphological data, the genus has been retained in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). The following two species belong to the Blueberry Family (Ericaceae): Monotropa uniflora (Indian-pipe) and Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap) and a fourth species, beech-drops (Epifagus viriginiana), belongs to the Broom-Rape Family (Orobanchaceae). Because the above species lack chlorophyll, they are not able to photosynthesize and, thus, must rely on other plants for their energy. Plants with chlorophyll are called autotrophs because they produce their own carbohydrates whereas plants without chlorophyll are heterotrophs because they “steal carbohydrates” from autotrophs. The latter get their food in two different sources. They either directly parasitize autotrophic species or they are myco-heterotrophic. In the latter case, mycorrhizal fungi carry carbohydrates from an autotrophic plant to a heterotrophic plant. For example, beech-drops directly take carbohydrates from the roots of American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) or a mycorrhizal fungus serves as a conduit of carbohydrates from an autotrophic species to Indian-pipe. There are many other variations on these themes, e.g., mistletoe plants (not present in this Preserve) both photosynthesize and parasitize autotrophic plants. According to Evert and Eichhorn (2013), there are nearly 3,000 species of flowering plants that depend upon other plants for the carbohydrates they need for survival.
    [Show full text]
  • Olympic Peninsula Chapter Washington Native Plant Society June-September 2020 Summer Newsletter
    Olympic Peninsula Chapter Washington Native Plant Society June-September 2020 Summer Newsletter To promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native plants and their habitats through study, education and advocacy Staying home, staying healthy. Who would have thought, in January, that we would have such a directive, to slow down, stay put? Yet here we are, approaching June, unsure how our summer and year will play out. So this chapter’s “summer newsletter” is incomplete. We have yet to know when group events will be offered and what form they may take. But look what’s here, when we look around! For those of us attuned to our rich native flora, it gives us an opportunity to look more closely to what’s growing in our backyards, as John found; “ It's been a really good year for Kopsiopsis/Boschniakia hookeri it seems, or maybe I'm paying more atten- tion. This is the first one I've seen in full and riotous bloom at our place. That's a giant vetch tendril lurking next to it..” Ground cone Kopsiopsis hookeri (John Haskins) WNPS Shelters in Place On March 23, due to the rapidly spreading Covid-19 coronavirus, Governor Inslee directed Washington residents to “shelter in place,” asked “non-essential” businesses and state parks to close and prohibited gatherings of more than 5 peo- ple. WNPS was just gearing up for a month of taking people outdoors to see the array of native wildflowers in April, Native Plant Appreciation Month (NPAM). We had to make some quick decisions about how to acknowledge and celebrate NPAM without going on group hikes or gathering.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Assessment for Three Birds Orchid (Triphora Trianthophora)
    Conservation Assessment for Three Birds Orchid (Triphora trianthophora) USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region Prepared by: Jennifer M. Ramstetter Professor of Biology Marlboro College This document is undergoing peer review, comments welcome This Conservation Assessment was prepared to compile the published and unpublished information on the subject taxon or community; or this document was prepared by another organization and provides information to serve as a Conservation Assessment for the Eastern Region of the Forest Service. It does not represent a management decision by the U.S. Forest Service. Though the best scientific information available was used and subject experts were consulted in preparation of this document, it is expected that new information will arise. In the spirit of continuous learning and adaptive management, if you have information that will assist in conserving the subject taxon, please contact the Eastern Region of the Forest Service Threatened and Endangered Species Program at 310 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 580 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203. Conservation Assessment for Three Birds Orchid (Triphora trianthophora) 2 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES.............................................................. 4 NOMENCLATURE AND TAXONOMY .................................................. 6 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES .................................................................... 6 SPECIES BIOLOGY...................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Yellow Bird's-Nest, Monotropa Hypopitys
    Northern Ireland Species Champions Yellow Bird’s-nest, Monotropa Hypopitys Description Distribution The yellow bird’s-nest is a saprophytic species of The easiest places to find this plant are Straidkilly woodland found mainly in County Fermanagh, with National Nature Reserve near Glenarm, County isolated sites in Counties Londonderry and Antrim. Antrim and several sites in western County Fermanagh such as Correl Glen National Nature A herbaceous plant consisting of a globose, perennial Reserve near Derrygonnelly, Carrickreagh, Ely Lodge underground stock which bears numerous fibrous Forest and Castle Caldwell Forest Park around Lower roots and seasonal above-ground flowering shoots of Lough Erne. waxy appearance. The flowering shoots are a uniform yellow colour; grows to about 25cm in height. The Action tubular flowers droop downwards, but become erect Many habitats of this species are designated as ASSIs. in fruit. Flowering shoots may not appear every season. Some sites for this species are designated as National Nature Reserves. Some sites lie within forests or forest parks managed by Forest Service. Sites are monitored on an ad hoc basis by various field botanists. Further Information http://www.habitas.org.uk/priority/species.asp?item= 3921 MLA Species Champion The plant may persist for an unknown number of years entirely in the form of an underground stock that produces numerous roots which are infected by a fungus. The flowers are pollinated by insects and are succeeded by a round fruit capsule containing the seeds the mycorrhizal fungus as an intermediary. Germination of the seed may take place in the absence of the mycorrhizal fungus, but infection of the seedling by the fungus is required for development to maturity.
    [Show full text]