FOODS IN PLANTS 



51 



51. Saprophytes. In general, the seed plants which are 

 saprophytes occur only in the forest or under shrubs. It is in 

 such situations that plants find a most abundant supply of 

 humus, or decaying organic matter. Com- 

 plete saprophytes that is, those which 



FIG. 33. A single Indian 



pipe plant (Monotropa 



uniflora) 



Note the slender stem and 

 reduced leaves 



FIG. 34. Clover dodder, parasitic on red clover 



A, habit sketch of part of the parasite and the 

 host ; B, portion of stem of the dodder, showing 

 protuberances from which haustoria pass into the 

 stem of the host ; C, a single flower of the dodder. 

 B and C considerably magnified. Modified after 

 " Flora Danica " 



cannot exist without an abundant supply of soluble organic 

 matter in the soil or sub-stratum are always pale, or even 

 white, from partial or complete absence of chlorophyll (fig. 32). 

 Their leaves are small and scale-like (fig. 33). Their roots 

 are usually short and have little tendency to branch. Some 



