so... they are actually vascular plants and are called Indian Pipes. Turns out they parasitize fungi which are symbiotic with the roots of the trees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_uniflora
Indian pipe weed!
Indian pipe weed! you need your Maine natural history guide (me)
Parasite of symbiont - that's quite a complex relationship they have going on. Got to love biology. Endlessly fascinating :)