Odd plant

[Larry Scott]

I saw this plant along the Appalachian Trail. I found it very puzzling. I can't find anyone that knows what this is.

https://s1170.photobucket.com/albums/r530/larrygps/?action=view&current=image.jpg

I have additional photos, but this one has a normal green leaf for color reference. Given the lack of color in the plant in question the green leaf at the bottom of the image shows how pale and nearly transparent this specimen is.

This is my first post, so I am looking forward to learning about the plant.

Thanks. Larry

[gumbo2176]

The lack of color makes me think it's some type fungi, but the structure of the plant is odd for the fungi I've seen in woods in my area. I'm stumped.

[Kisal]

That's Indian Pipe. It does have a relation to fungi as part of the root structure, I believe, but can't give much detail without researching it.

[DoubleDogFarm]

https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html

Eric

[Kisal]

Thanks, Eric!

I was heading out the door to my doctor's office and just didn't have time to wander around the Internet at that moment.

[Larry Scott]

I saw this "flower" in central Colombia. Is this a flower at all? Or what do you call this type of display. The grass is like a crab grass, or saw grass.

https://s1170.photobucket.com/albums/r530/larrygps/?action=view&current=image-3.jpg

The white on the blades of the grass looks like spay paint. Is there a North American specie that has blooms like this?

Larry Scott

[DoubleDogFarm]

https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=moun3

Eric

[Larry Scott]

Thank you for all of the responses. I didn't know anything about a parasitic plant. This plant had puzzled me and my friends for a while.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Larry,

Oops! I thought we were still talking Indianpipe.

The picture is a White Top sedge. Take a look at this link.
Rhynchospora colorata (Narrow-Leaf White-topped Sedge)
https://www.google.com/search?q=white+t ... 24&bih=571

Eric

[Kisal]

That's fascinating!

[applestar]

Larry, thanks for bringing these up. And Eric, thanks for the links.
I never knew that about Indian pipe. That was totally amazing.
...and I've seen this white topped sedge before but never knew that's what it was called.

[Larry Scott]

Again, thanks everyone. Not only have I not seen a sedge before, and apparently they are not unusual, but I have never heard of a Sedge. New vocabulary. I came across the sedge in Colombia so I didn't know if it was common the americas or more regional.

Q: on the White Top Sedge, is the white on the leaves the bloom's pollen that came from the center?

I don't know when or where I will see them again.

Larry

[rainbowgardener]

No the white is the actual color of those "leaves." They aren't actually leaves, they are bracts, just as the big red "petals" on a poinsettia flower aren't actually petals, they are bracts. The actual flower on the white top sedge is the little inconspicuous part in the middle and the actual leaves are at the base of the plant.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Again, thanks everyone. Not only have I not seen a sedge before, and apparently they are not unusual, but I have never heard of a Sedge. New vocabulary. I came across the sedge in Colombia so I didn't know if it was common the americas or more regional.

Q: on the White Top Sedge, is the white on the leaves the bloom's pollen that came from the center?

I don't know when or where I will see them again.

Larry

Here's a saying to help remember the differences between Sedges and Rushes.

Sedges have edges, Rushes are round, grasses have nodes .............

Eric