yellow birds nest

[Naturenutz]

Yellow birds nest was on the sightings of the day board at a wetlands site in south wales today. Just wondered how common are these / and are the wardens likely to give the location away if i go back. i was to shattered to ask if they would give me a location today.I am no expert but if they are as rare as i think they are, i understand if they dont give locations away.

[Dorts]

In the right locations, they can be counted in their thousands.
They like Yew and Beech woods. They also do well in Alder and Willow carr, where they can often be found growing in very shallow standing water.

But in most cases there will probably only be a few plants. They are easily overlooked due to their straw-coloured stems.

I see no reason why a Warden should not tell you where they grow, or show them to you.
There are two sub-species.
Hope you get to see them as they are great little plants.
Dorts.

[alindsay]

Sounds interesting. Can anyone post a phto of this plant?

[King Edward]

There's also the Bird's-nest Orchid which looks somewhat similar.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by alindsay

Sounds interesting. Can anyone post a phto of this plant?

Alison. (Not my pic. Taken from the Gallery.)


Yellow Bird's-nest - Monotropa hypopitys, a parasitic member of the Heather family.
Dorts.

[Ditiola]

I understand it is mycorrhizal with a fungus that in turn is mycorrhizal with tree roots making it a parasitic on the tree but not directly so.

Peter