Episode 31: Pale Parasites & Natures OG Scrubs- Ghost Pipe
Hello and welcome back to another week of rooted! This week I’m coming at you with a short and slightly spooky episode to help us all get into the season just a tad early. We’ll be digging in to a pale parasite- the ghost pipe!
The ghost pipe, or Monotropa uniflora, is an herbaceous perennial native to North america, and some parts of south america and asia. It’s characterized by its ghostly white appearance, and almost other-worldy looking blooms. It’s got thick white stalks and bell like flower that droops down almost as if it’s in mourning. At first glance, it’s easy to think this might be a mushroom, but it’s actually a plant.
It manages to be completely white because it actually doesnt contain any chlorophyll-I know what you’re thinking….dont all plants need chlorophyll to survive? Isnt that what makes them plants?
Well, not exactly. See, these guys actually don’t need chlorophyll, as they have actually adapted to just be absolute SCRUBS of the plant world- leaning on their mellow mushroomy friends (specifically in the Russulaceae family) to supply them with everything they need without ever lifting a finger….
As a literal parasite, ghost pipe gets away with this by simply intertwining their roots with the microrizal network that their mushroom pals have worked super hard to build- taking the nutrients not only from their host, but also from the other plants who are giving some of their energy to the network. This is kind of an amazing set up for them, as they can have all the benefits of being a plant (seeds, sustained growth, etc) without any of the hard work or character traits that go into this
As you might imagine, this means that the ghost pipe can survive with little to no light, which makes it easy for it to thrive in the densely filled understories of the forest with little to no competition.
As the plant ages, it begins to bloom in the early spring, where it will be pollinated by bees, flies, and other bugs found in the understory. Interestingly, the biggest pollinator for these plants is actually the bumble bee, which I wouldnt have expected because ghost pipes seem so fragile, and bumblebees are’t really known for their grace. But I kind of love the juxtaposition of the two.
Once they have bloomed (typically after a rain fall) they get to work developing fruit, standing up ever so taller as they do so. From there, the fruit will dry and split open, making it so that the ghost pipe can spread its seeds all over the forest floor in the stronger winds of autumn.
After going to seed, the once almost translucent ghost pipes begin to dull and brown, getting to be more and more brittle as time goes on.
While these guys might not be pulling their own weight in terms of actually providing for themselves, they kind of make up for it in stories and remedies.
According to Cherokee legend, Ghost pipes were sent from the great spirit to remind us all to work together and be less selfish. The story goes that in a time before selfishness, people lived in peace- sharing their hunting and fishing areas, resources, and space to ensure everyone lived in harmony. However, once Selfishness came about, the cherokee people began to fight with their neighbors, eventually leading to countless fights.
One day this all came to a head when the chiefs decided to have a meeting. They smoked a tobacco b[pipe, but instead of then reaching a peaceful agreement (ehich is what the pip was meant to signify) they proceeded to fight for seven days straight.
This is where the great spirit decided to step in. He had seen the men taking advantage of the peace pipe, and felt like something needed to be done to teach them a lesson.
He looked at the men- their heads drooped in frustration, and decided the best thing to do was to turn them into what we now call ghost pipes! And now they bloom to serve as a reminder to us all not to be selfish.
In addition to being a great moral reminder, Ghost pipe was also a favorite of Emily Dickenson, who is now often compared to the flower due to her reclusive and hauntingly beautiful nature.
But our fun doesnt stop here! Ghost pipe was also commonly used as a sedative to treat restlessness, pain, anxiety, acute psychosis, inflammation, ulcers, and even gonnorhea.
Most of these treatments are derived from the roots, which are to be harvested in the fall to ensure their is an appropriate concentration of the active chemicals. However, it’s actually the juice that was once used to treat inflammation, ulcers, and gonohrea.
While those uses are super interesting, it’s not recommended that you implement ghost pipe into your own treatment, as it can be toxic and getting exact doses can be very tricky.
Ghost flowers are as delicate as they look, which is why this week I am asking you to refrain from kissing their heads (as lovely as I think it would be) as these flowers are so sensitive that even touching them can make them bruise and wilt. It is also for this reason that folks are asked not to pick or transplant them, as they do not move well, and really struggle to survive when removed from their host.
While we may not be able to kiss their heads, we can still absolutely gaze at them in awe whenever they pop up, and be grateful for all the stories, remedies, and reminders the ghost pipe brings our way.
Sources:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/mycotrophic/whatarethey.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_uniflora
https://www.phoenixaurelius.org/blogs/journal/ghost-pipe
https://www.everyleafspeaks.org/blank-3/ghost-pipe-a-no-pick
