September 20, 2005
Beechdrops, Epiphagus virginiana
There are hundreds of these small plants growing on the ground beneath the grove of beech trees on the "Beech Path" that runs behind Neville Place. They are reddish-brown, contain no chlorophyll and are parasitic on the roots of the beech trees. The plants have no leaves: the small projecting structures are tube-shaped flowers.