Orchid mycorrhizae are endomycorrhizal fungi which develop symbiotic relationships with the roots and seeds of plants of the family Orchidaceae. Nearly all orchids are myco-heterotrophic at some point in their life cycle. Orchid mycorrhizae are critically important during orchid germination, as an orchid seed has virtually no energy reserve and obtains its carbon from the fungal symbiont.
Orchid protocorm
Orchid mycorrhizal fungus from Zambia on agar plate, Jodrell Laboratory, Kew Gardens
A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plant's rhizosphere, its root system. Mycorrhizae play important roles in plant nutrition, soil biology, and soil chemistry.
Beech is ectomycorrhizal
Leccinum aurantiacum, an ectomycorrhizal fungus
Wheat has arbuscular mycorrhiza.
An ericoid mycorrhizal fungus isolated from Woollsia pungens