The Herbaceous Grain Dust

Grain dust (Monotropa hypopitys) is an herbaceous, perennial plant which belongs to the heifamilie (Ericaceae). It is a plant of woods and scrub dunes, on a wet to dry, nutrient-poor soil. The plant occurs naturally in the northern hemisphere. She is on the Dutch Red List of plants as very rare and greatly reduced.


The plant is 10-30 cm high, is a rhizome (rhizome). The plant has no chlorophyll and is initially pale yellow or white and black later. The unbranched stem is brittle and filled with scales.


Dust Seed blooms from June to September with light yellow or reddish flowers. Inflorescence an initially nodding later erected spray, the flowers close together. Petals have a drooping at the foot containing the nectar.


The fruit is 0.6 to 1 x 0.4 to 0.8 cm capsule.


As the dust seed has no chlorophyll the plant can not assimilate and thus is not autotrophic, but mycoheterotroof. The required carbon compounds by means of fungal species in the genus Tricholoma obtained. The fungus forms the roots of a mycorrhizal seed material, which in turn one on the bean roots ectomycorrhizal forms. The fungus causes the tree to obtain sufficient water and minerals in exchange for the tree created by the carbohydrates. Part of these carbohydrates, the fungus in turn by the seed material. Grain dust is not as long thought was a saprophytes, but a epiparasiet like bird's nest, coral root, Limodorum abortifacients, and pale leaved helleborine helleborine.



Names in other languages:


• German: Fichtenspargel

• English: Dutchman's Pipe, Yellow Bird's-nest, Pinesap,

• French: Monotrope sucepin




Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stofzaad


See also: International Flower Delivery, Florist