Hairy Pinesap (Hypopitys lanuginosa)

Growing below hickories and oaks on a ridge side in a dense forest.

Hypopitys lanuginosa is a nonphotosynthetic, mycoheterotrophic plant that thrives in the dark understories of forests. Because it lacks chlorophyll, it must obtain its nutrients from other sources. It is a parasite on fungi (usually Tricholoma sp.) and an indirect parasite of trees. It obtains nutrients from fungi which are initially obtained from trees.