Weird Flowers I Found (Ghost Pipe?)

[metta-morpheus]

These were some interesting flowers we came across while hiking this weekend. I thought they were mushrooms at first, because of the color and texture. But inside the bell were stamens and pollen. My wife did a quick google search and came to the conclusion it was called ghost pipe.

Anyone familiar with or recognize this plant?

 

[downwardsfromzero]

I've encountered similar chlorophyll-lacking plants before. They are quite bizarre. In order to obtain nutrition, some are assisted by fungi. Whether this relationship operates as symbiosis or more in the direction of parasitism depends on the plant species, but I don't know any more than that!

One of them - known as "Dutchman's pipe" - has been mentioned in a thread here before. I think they are closely related if not the same species as Ghost pipe. It seems to be another of those plants with purported "cannabis-like" properties, IIRC.

Did you take any pictures?

 

[metta-morpheus]

There’s the pic. I spaced out and forgot to attach it when I posted. I did some reading on ghost pipe, and it said they come out after the rain following a dry spell, which happened. Wikipedia said it’s used as a nervine (anxiolytics).

Either way, it was quite an interesting find.

 

[null24]

Yep, they are ghost pipes.https://reneeadavis.com/2016/08/03/ghost-pipe-respect/

 

[kerelsk]

I believe I've posted this before but it's a wonderful, poetic description on the use of Monotropa.

Ghost Pipe- a Little Known Anodyne, Sean Donahue

 

[downwardsfromzero]

There’s the pic. I spaced out and forgot to attach it

I had a feeling you would say that :lol:

Nice picture. It's great to be part of such an innocent botanical photography forum

 

[metta-morpheus]

Awesome read kerelsk! Tanks for that. Knowing what it is now, if I come across it again I will harvest some and try this tincture. My wife gets quite a bit of anxiety, and I am interested to see how this might work.

 

[dragonrider]

There’s the pic. I spaced out and forgot to attach it when I posted. I did some reading on ghost pipe, and it said they come out after the rain following a dry spell, which happened. Wikipedia said it’s used as a nervine (anxiolytics).

Either way, it was quite an interesting find.

Wow. Quite an appropriate name.