Wildflower Wednesday – Ghost Pipe

by Brianarowens, posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Parks, Plant Based, Redwood National Park, Wildflower Wednesday

Wildflower Wednesday SPOOKY SEASON edition.

There was only one obvious flower to post for October… I remember finding this flower for the first time when I was living in Gettysburg, PA. I did my research and learned the name “Ghost Pipe, or Ghost Flower”- I found it ironic that the location of this cluster of flowers I found was at a site that was once a known mass burial location within Gettysburg National Military Park. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I clearly remember thinking, hmmmm…interesting. Now, whenever I find them in the dense understory of the Redwoods I find myself thinking “did something die here?” >Likely, it’s just decomposing plants that created a rich humus in which the plant likes to grow!<

  • Scientific Name: Monotropa uniflora
  • Family: Monotropaceae
  • Grows: deep shady woods, low to moderate elevations, rich humus areas, majority of the US.
  • Common Names: Ghost Flower, Ghost Pipe, Indian Pipe
  • Blooming Time: June to September
  • Bloom Colors: white, sometimes having a pinkish hue
  • Height: 4-8 inches

Want to know a spooky fact about this flower? It lacks chlorophyll. The entire plant is as white as a ghost, almost translucent. Chlorophyll is kinda key for photosynthesis, so how does Ghost Pipe survive? Ghost Pipe gets nutrients and carbohydrates from tree roots. Though they are not parasitic plants. They almost look like they could be some sort of mushroom, or fungus, but they are indeed flowers!

Ghost Pipe – Monotropa uniflora

The scientific name uniflora means “one flowered”. As you can see, each stalk bears one flower. As the flowers mature, they become upright. Until, as seen in the third photo, they become a seed pod, sitting right on top of the stalk.

Are there other spooky flowers out there? If you know of any, be sure to pass them along!

A large cluster of Ghost Pipe Flowers
Seed Pods of Ghost Pipe – Monotropa uniflora

To date Ghost Pipes appear in the Baby Ranger Book: ABC’s Great Smoky Mountains Available in paperback, and as an ebook.

As always- go on an adventure, and see what you can find growing in the wild! Tag me on social media in pictures with your findings!