What are called saprophytic plants? Give 2 examples.

Saprophytic plants are plants that get food by absorbing nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter instead of doing photosynthesis; two examples are Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe) and Neottia nidus-avis (bird’s-nest orchid).

These plants lack chlorophyll or have very little, so they cannot make food using sunlight. They often live in dark forest floors and connect to fungi that break down leaf litter and wood. Many so-called saprophytes are actually mycoheterotrophs: they obtain nutrients from fungi that, in turn, feed on decaying matter or associate with trees.

• Features: pale or waxy stems, no green leaves, small scale-like leaves, dependence on fungi, unique flowers.
• Examples: Monotropa uniflora (white “ghost” plant), Neottia nidus-avis, Corallorhiza (coralroot orchids).
• Role: help recycle nutrients in forest ecosystems.