Ghost plant.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Difficile

Type de plante

Mycoheterotroph

Lumière

Deep shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière faible

Arrosage

Tous les 0 jours

Taille adulte

10 inches

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 3 à 9

Floraison

Mid to late summer

Entretien

This plant is impossible to keep in cultivation because it requires a specific symbiotic relationship with underground fungi. Please leave it undisturbed in its natural habitat so it can thrive. If you see one, just enjoy the view and take a photo.

Arrosage

This plant relies entirely on its natural environment for moisture.

Engrais

Do not fertilize this plant as it will kill the necessary fungal network.

Taille

Never prune this plant in the wild.

Rempotage

This plant cannot be potted or moved.

Sol

Rich forest duff

pH du sol

Acidic

Température

-20 à 25°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Faible

Durée de vie

Perennial, but only visible above ground for a few weeks.

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Élevée

Sécurité

Humains

The plant contains glycosides that can be toxic if consumed in quantity.

Enfants

Keep children away from this plant as it is not for consumption and grows in delicate woodland areas.

Allergènes de contact

There is no known contact dermatitis risk associated with this plant.

Allergènes aéroportés

The plant does not produce significant airborne pollen.

Comestibilité

This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach distress if ingested.

Comment l'identifier

• Translucent white waxy stems
• Single nodding flower head
• Lacks green leaves entirely
• Scale like leaves on stem

Hauteur

0,05 à 0,2m

Envergure

0,05 à 0,1m

Feuilles

white, translucent, deciduous

Fleurs

white, pinkish, 1 à 2cm

Fruits

brown, Autumn

Problèmes courants

• Habitat loss — The plant requires a very specific fungal network to survive.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed

Quand planter

spring

Hivernage

The plant survives as an underground root system and fungal connection, requiring no special care.

En pot

This plant cannot be grown in containers because it requires a specific, established forest soil ecosystem.

Leave the forest floor undisturbed to protect the delicate fungal networks this plant requires.

Bonnes associations

• Eastern hemlock — It often grows in the deep shade provided by these trees.
• American beech — The leaf litter and fungal networks under these trees support its growth.

Espèces similaires

• Monotropa hypopitys — It is a related plant that is usually yellow or reddish rather than white.

Science

Famille

Ericaceae

Genre

Monotropa

Ordre

Ericales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Temperate regions of North America, Asia, and northern South America.

Préservation

It is not endangered but is extremely difficult to cultivate outside its native habitat.

It survives by parasitizing the fungi that are already connected to the roots of nearby trees.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, bumblebees

Utilisations

botanical curiosity, woodland garden specimen

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow this in my garden?

It is nearly impossible to transplant because it relies on a complex underground fungal relationship.

Why is it white?

It does not need sunlight for energy, so it does not produce green chlorophyll.

D'où vient le nom

The name Monotropa means one turn, referring to the nodding flower, and uniflora means one flowered. The common name ghost pipe comes from its ghostly white, pipe shaped appearance.

Bon à savoir

• It lacks chlorophyll entirely.
• It is often called ghost pipe because of its pale appearance.
• It can grow in total darkness under a thick forest canopy.
• The flower nods downward until it is pollinated, then it stands upright.

Aussi dans

• Plantes d'ombre
• Plantes que les cerfs ne mangent pas