Ghost Pipe

I admit, I’ve been called a nature hoarder a few times in my life. I love nature. One of the benefits of being a forager or a collector is that it provides limitations. It sets intention for what I look for and keeps what I bring home to a minimum.

One plant that has been on my list of plants to find is Ghost Pipe, which I was fortunate enough to find this week.

Ghost Pipe, (Monotropa uniflora) is a flowering plant but is often mistaken as a fungi due to its appearance. It lacks chlorophyll, which is why it does not have the typical green pigmentation of plants. Not having chlorophyll also means that the plant does not need light to grow. This allows the plant to grow deep in the forest where there is little light.

Instead of having chlorophyll for photosynthesis (conversion of light energy into chemical energy for fuel) the plant gets its nutrients by acting as a parasite and stealing nutrients from other plants via their roots.

It also piggy backs onto fungi. The mycelium network of fungi function as decomposers, breaking down the forest floor and releasing nutrients for plant roots to absorb for use. Ghost pipes tap their roots into mycelium, taking nutrients before plant roots have the opportunity to absorb them.

These mystical plants are edible. Flavourless if eaten raw, but when cooked taste similar to asparagus.

Medicinally this plant has been used as an antispasmodic, nervine, and sedative, making it useful to treat conditions like muscle spasms, cramps, and pain.

Dr. Cristina Allen ND