Parasite Plant: Cheating Orchid Feeds Off Fungi Instead of Sunlight

In a study published in the open access journal PhytoKeys, leading author Dr. Kenji Suetsugu from Kobe University has named the new orchid species Lecanorchis tabugawaensis. This mycoheterotrophic plant has strange eating habits and could be found among all plant species groups. Mycoheterotrophy is a Greek term that describes the bizarre symbiotic relationship between some plants and fungi. By parasitizing upon the fungi, the plant is able to get nutrients without photosynthesis.