Hidden in the deep, dark depths of the florests of five continents, and even underground in Australia, several strange orchids emerge, resenbling pale phantoms. Truly children of darkness, they are born and live in the organic debris of branches, leaves and roots. With very few exceptions, they contain no chlorophil. That is, they do not posess the necessary requirement for plant photosynthesis; only a few parasytic species ( Orobanchaceae, Rafflesia, Cuscuta, etc.) and fungi can survive in the absence of light.