My daughter and I enjoyed a great hike in the woods this morning and happened upon a new wildflower for us: Monotropa uniflora, also known as Ghost Plant or Indian Pipe. Through the otherwise dark and green forest these flowers really popped out against the ground. At first I thought they were some sort of candystick or pinesap like I saw on my hike to Heather Park but closer inspection showed otherwise. The photo above used no flash – it took your eyes some adjusting to see them clearly even in the woods.

It’s especially interesting to me because, as wikipedia explains, it generates it’s energy not from chlorophyll but through being parasitic on fungi that are mycorrhizal with trees. And any reader of my blog knows I enjoy mushroom photography.