Like a dry, withered flower, this bizarre orchid grows in the mould of moist forests with lime or neutral soil.

This is the most common of the so-called saprophytic orchids. These orchids have no chlorophyll to create their own energy, so they are dependent completely from their fungus.

A better description would be parasitic orchid on a saprophytic fungus. All orchids of this group have large, tangled rhizoms which attract and digest the fungus hyphens. It's unknown what the orchid gives the fungus in return.

Usually, saprophytic orchids can't be cultivated, but Neottia seems to be an exception. Sadovski describes in his book how he has managed to prepare a shady mould bed with the fungus in it, and how he has grown Neottia from seeds in a few years.

Similar, but not related, are the various Orobanche species which grow on meadows and are parasites on the roots of other plants. Most of them can be grown from seeds, too. I have managed to grow Orobanche hederae on ivy in two years.