Within a week in the summer of 2018, I came across “the ghost-flower” in 4 locations while out hiking, all in shady locations in mature forests at middle elevations. Their appearance seems to vary with the weather conditions that particular growing season, so we are always delighted and a bit surprised to come across them.

• Monotropa uniflora is a parasitic perennial.
• As the stem grows from a “fleshy” root cluster, white unbranched, erect stems rise to to 30 cm in height.
• Single bell-shaped terminal flowers form, one per stem, erect at first, but drooping with maturity.
• The flowers turn to one side (monotropa) and then the whole plant turns black with age.
• White scale-like linear bracts line the stem.
• The flowers mature in mid-summer. The flowering period is only 1 to 2 weeks.
• Other names for this plant are corpse plant, ghost flower. and ice plant.
• All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a larger (lightbox) view along with a caption (month and location).

• As the herb matures, the flowers become more perpendicular. The seeds are borne in erect capsules and split open with maturity.
• Indian-pipe grows in mature forests with richer, moist soils.
• It is a saporophytic species, that is it is a symbiotic (or parasitic) relationship between tree roots and specific fungi, in which the plant gets all or part of its food from parasitism upon the fungi, rather than from photosynthesis.
• The plant may have black flecks or pink hues.
• The flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, probably seeking nectar.
• In the late 1800s, the plant was used as a nervine (calming) in herbal medicine. The roots have anti-spasmodic properties.
• First nations people in BC used it to rub on sores and wounds to assist healing.
• The herb contains some toxic glycosides so should not be eaten.
• Emily Dickinson called Indian-pipe “the preferred flower of life”, marveling at the mysteries of the specimen. She wrote a poem entitled “‘Tis Whiter than an Indian-pipe”
• Ghost flower cannot be easily transplanted since it relies on woodland humus and the appropriate fungi.
• Bears may feed on the plant or on the root mass.

Bringing a sense of wonder to the outdoors arms us with the desire to come across unexpected wonders in the forest, so we keep an eye on what is growing in to the sides of the trail, and one of the delights/discoveries is an emerging cluster of corpse plants.