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One remarkable native parasitic US flower is the Ghost Pipe. It parasitizes the mycorrhizal interface between a fungus and plant. They are uncommon or rare, s
by filoeleven 5y ago
One remarkable native parasitic US flower is the Ghost Pipe. It parasitizes the mycorrhizal interface between a fungus and plant. They are uncommon or rare, so I was overjoyed the first time I saw a little stand of them, having read about them years before. I did not pick any (please don’t), but I did want to feel their texture and was surprised to find them firm and waxy, not flimsy like I expected.
If you live near Philadelphia, you can find them under the right conditions in the Wissahickon Valley Park. I hiked there with friends and was shocked by how many we spotted just off trail; they were all over the place!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_uniflora https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_uniflora
- dleslie 5y agoHuh, I had no idea that these are rare; but I know them as Corpse Flowers. I've seen them on numerous hikes here in BC.
- fallingfrog 5y agoWe have these in Maine too. I’ve always known them as indian pipeweed, although I suspect they aren’t called that anymore as it’s a bit culturally insensitive.
- filoeleven 5y agoYeah, I first learned of them under the name Indian Pipe, and a half hour later saw the Ghost Pipe alternative, so ran with that for that very reason. It’s also a more descriptive name, given how they look.