Parasitic plants take nutrients directly from other plants. For example, the many species of the genus Cuscuta, commonly called dodder or witch’s hair, use structures called haustoria to pierce ...

The red cones are native to California, Oregon and Nevada, but belong to a family of saprophytic plants called Indianpipe, which has similar urn-shaped flowers.

However, saprophytic fungi also play a big role in breaking down leaf litter, animal feces, and other ‘waste’ material. Varieties like wine caps, shitakes, and oysters feed on carbonaceous materials ...

While fungi play critical roles in keeping plants alive, saprophytic fung i also are there in death, prompting the breakdown of organic material. “It’s crucial to speak about [fungi] not only as ...