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 
Fic. 84. Clover dodder, parasitic on red clover 
Fic. 33. A single Indian A, habit sketch of part of the parasite and the 
pipe plant (Monotropa host; B, portion of stem of the dodder, showing 
protuberances from which haustoria pass into the 
eae) stem of the host; (, a single flower of the dodder. 
Note the slender stem and Band C considerably magnified. Modified after 
reduced leaves “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 
