Waikato Biodiversity Waikato Biodiversity

Species feature: Thismia rodwayi


Although widely called a saprophyte, Thismia rodwayi is actually a non-chlorophyllous plant associated with a truly saprophytic fungus. The fungal hypha are found in the cortical cells of the plant's roots, and also around those roots, mixed with humus.  Rotting organic material is absorbed by the fungus and stocked as fat globules in hyphal bladders. The fungal cells are then digested by the host, and the fat globules are turned into a polysaccharide possibly glycogen.