8/12– A couple weeks ago, Hammer stumbled across a unique species of flower right along the campground trails. While on my evening stroll last night, I decided to see if it was still growing in the same spot. Low and behold, I discovered a cluster of “ghost flowers”  hidden in the shadows. 

Monotropa uniflora, also known as the “Indian pipe flower” or “ghost flower”, is an uncommon, yet exciting find in the woods. If you aren’t looking closely, you might miss the flower tucked within the damp, shaded undergrowth. However, their distinct, translucent white color makes the flower easy to identify. 

What makes the “ghost flower” so special? The plant’s color comes from the lack of chlorophyll in its cells, which is used in photosynthesis and gives plants their green color. The ghost flower is a parasitic plant, meaning it has no need for photosynthesis. Instead, it feeds solely off the nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi within the forest soil. Mycorrhizal fungi and trees have a symbiotic relationship in the forest—the trees send nutrients to the fungi while the fungi pulls up hard-to-reach water and nutrients for the trees to absorb. The fungi forms a complex network, acting as a “highway” for trees to send needed nutrients to one another. The “ghost flower” disrupts that relationship, intercepting the nutrients from the fungi and stealing it for itself (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/mycotrophic/monotropa_uniflora.shtml).

The ”ghost flower” is part of a group of plants called mycoheterotrophs, which steal nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi. Some species of plants are only parasitic at certain stages of their life cycle; many species of orchid, for example, steal nutrients as seedlings before shifting to photosynthesis as they grow. Other species within this group include certain types of ferns and clubmosses. 

The ”ghost flower” was also one of Emily Dickinson’s favorite plants, and a picture of the flower decorates the cover of her first published book. She famously referred to it as the “preferred flower of life”(https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/roomitem/preferred-flower-of-life/).

I hope you enjoyed this brief lesson on the ecology of the beautiful North Woods!

-Olivia