Yesterday's rain freshened the forest for today's morning walks on Sonora Island. On shore we divided into groups depending on how long a walk we felt like taking. The forest was old second growth, having been cut many years ago.
Our naturalists showed us the fine details of everything from banana slugs to Western white pine. One of the most interesting organisms was the Indian pipe plant, a member of the wintergreen family. This plant is unable to photosynthesize, because it has no chlorophyll. Instead the plant has an intimate relationship with fungus and a coniferous tree. The fungus provides a connection between the Indian pipe and the tree. The conifer actually provides the nutrients to the Indian pipe. Without either of the others the Indian pipe could not survive.
