Ghost flower/Indian pipe/Corpse plant
(π΄ππππππππ ππππππππ)
Conservation Status: No current status rank in Maine
Photo Credit: Glacier NPS/Creative Commons
Facts: ππ°π―π°π΅π³π°π±π’ πΆπ―πͺπ§ππ°π³π’, also known as ghost flower or Indian pipe, is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows in areas of Asia, South America and North America. The plant is a waxy white and may have some pink or black flecks. It has no chlorophyll, which is the reason for its translucent white appearance. While plants get their energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, the ghost flower acts parasitic and actually gets its nutrition from fungi instead of through photosynthesis. It can often be found in the darkest parts of the forest because it does not rely on sunlight.
As the name suggests, each stem has one flower. The fruit is a capsule and, when mature, the flower becomes erect. When it has ripened the seed is dispersed through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsule.
Interesting facts: Ghost flower has been used as a botanical remedy for some nerve disorders and Native Americans used the sap to treat eye infections and other ailments. The ghost flower can be seen along the Carson Trail!
Sources: https://www.fs.fed.us/.../mycotr.../monotropa_uniflora.shtml, https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/.../monotropa/uniflora