There is a native wildflower that looks much more like a fungus. When you stumble upon this unusual sight - a completely white flower - you may find yourself asking, "Is it a plant or a mushroom?"
Ghost plant or Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora) is indeed an angiosperm (flowering plant). There are at least 3,000 known species of non-photosynthetic angiosperms. Indian pipes are perennial wildflowers found throughout the United States. The stem, nodding flower head, and petals are completely white with small black flecks on the petals and sepals. The leaves are small and scale-like. The plant is approximately4-12 inches tall.
How does this plant obtain its nutrients if it does not contain chlorophyll? Indian pipes are mycoheterotrophic meaning they get their nutrients from an outside source; in this case fungus. The relationship between the Indian pipes and the fungi becomes more complicated because the fungus is a mycorrihizal. Mycorrihizal fungi are fungi that live symbiotically with trees and their roots. The Indian pipes take advantage of the symbiosis between mycorrihizal fungi and the tree by parasitizing the fungus. These relationships appear to be very host and species specific. Monotropa uniflora forms a relationship with Russula and Lactarius species.
Generally, species of Monotropa are found in mature forests with moist thick leaf cover. These plants spend most of their lives underground and only come above ground to flower and disperse. These plants flower early summer to early autumn.
For more information on Indian pipes, please see websites at the USDA Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Photo credits: 1: Charity Nebbe; 2: Ashley West; 3: Ashley West