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.
