Thursday, September 30, 2010

Indian Pipe Blooms

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Dappled sunlight doesn't really make for the best photos, but I've yet to find Indian Pipe in a perfect location. It likes to be near decaying things and that's usually in a shady area. As I mentioned before it comes up out of the ground bent over, and white. At first you might even think it's a fungus. But it's not. It just lacks chlorophyll.
Unlike most plants, it is white and does not contain chlorophyll. Instead of generating energy from sunlight, it is parasitic, more specifically a myco-heterotroph. Its hosts are certain fungi that are mycorrhizal with trees, meaning it ultimately gets its energy from photosynthetic trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments as in the understory of dense forest. The complex relationship that allows this plant to grow also makes propagation difficult.

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After it reaches its height the blooms turn upward. This is the first time I've been able to catch the pipes straight. It doesn't take long until they droop and turn broom. The little tops are full of seeds.

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I enjoyed watching the ants on it, not sure if they have anything to do with its pollination or if they just like it.

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Monotropa Uniflora is commonly known as Indian Pipe, Ghost Plant or Corpse Plant.

17 comments:

  1. What an extraordinary plant. I've never heard of it before. The photographs are wonderful and really show it well. the flowers seem to have little touches of dark blue inside and around the tip of the petals. Beautiful.

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  2. these are amazing looking plants. The ants seem to love them too. great pics!

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  3. I have never seen anything like those. They are really pretty . Were you lying on the ground again? LOL! Great shots!

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  4. interesting flowers. great shots!! happy weekend

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  5. Never seen this before! It looks like something Tim Burton would concoct for one of his films.
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  6. How interesting! I've never seen anything like it but they are very cool.

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  7. such a beautiful flower!! loved these.

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  8. Thanks for the botany lesson! I was not familiar with this unusual flower. Beautifully captured, Lisa!

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  9. Amazing what nature gives us...these are so cool (I have never seen them before)!

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  10. What an odd little plant! How nicely you even got the ants.

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  11. What strange things!

    You may be able to help with naming the flower I've posted today... I haven't a clue anyway!

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  12. Extremely unusual! I don't think I've ever seen anything like these before. Hope all is well in your world Lisa. Have a great weekend :-)

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  13. My dad pointed this out to me for the first time this year. I thought it was SO COOL!

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  14. These photos are amazing. I have never seen anything quite like these flowers before - very interesting and pretty!

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  15. They look like bells. I've never heard of them before but I love the name!

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