Today on the Trail – Ghost Plant

These are popping up underneath trees near wet spongy areas.

Ghost Plant or Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

From wikipedia: “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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August 5th, 2009  in Methuen Wildlife, Today on the Trail No Comments »

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