Indian Pipe Blooms

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.

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.

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

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

Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe is one of those flowers that I longed to see in nature. Last year I finally saw some, but it was past it's prime. This year, I have been looking frequently in the same location and happened to spot it coming up. When it first emerges it's just a little white arch in the ground, then the next day the bloom was up a little more and each day the stem and bloom got higher. It has some droplets on it as it's emerging.  To me, it's an amazing flower, one without color, and one that only grows where decaying leaves, trees and fungus are.  It finds life in death.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here. ~

More information on Indian Pipe, aka Ghost plant, aka Corpse Plant can be found here.

A Still, Soft Voice

Sometimes the madness catches up to you and you need to just take a moment, alone, in the woods to breath.

Then God, or whoever you believe in, whispers softly in your ear when you weren't even listening for Him.

Proof, you do not have to be listening in order for Him to speak.

Indian Pipe is flower I longed to see, last year I managed to spot some, nearly dead, but was thrilled. This year, while I wasn't even looking, but was merely moping there it was. It's been a rough week, several people weighing heavily on my mind - worrying about their hearts and health. And still, I was not blind to the beauty, I took the time to listen.

Indian Pipe Flowers

For the first time this year I got to see some Indian Pipe Flowers (aka ghost flower, corpse plant), scientific name, Monotropa uniflora.

The plants are small, growing to 4-10" tall with flowers that are about ¾" long. The entire plant is white and turns black when damaged. A gel-like sap is said to have been used medicinally by Native Americans for treating eye problems.

Once pollinated, the flowers turn upright and the plants turn brown. Hopefully next time I see them they will be fresher.