Mycoheterotrophic plants (fungusotherfeeders) use a fungus to form a bridge to other plants. The green plant makes the sugars, passes them to the fungus via a mycorrhizal relationship and the mycoheterotrophic plant robs the fungus and uses the sugar for its own growth. One of the other features that unites this odd group of land plants is the lack of chlorophyll.

Known fungal associates. (A family name indicates more than one genus is involved and a genus name indicates more than one species.)
Allotropa virgata – Tricholoma magnivelare
Corallorhiza maculata – Russulaceae
Cryptothallus mirabilis -Tulasnella (a jelly fungus)
Epipactis helleborine – Pezizales, Tuber
Hemitomes congestum – Hydnellum peckii & H. aurantiacum
Monotropa hypopitys – Tricholoma cingulatum
Monotropa uniflora – Russulaceae
Monotropastrum humile – Russula
Monotropsis odorata – Hydnellum
Pityopus californicus – Tricholoma
Pleuricospora fimbriolata – Gautieria monticola
Pterospora andromedea – Rhizopogon, Rhizopogon salebrosus
Sarcodes sanguinea – Rhizopogon