Corpse Flower
Going Green is not something Corpse Flowers do. Translucent white they look like a ghostly apparition on the shady forest floor so you can see why they are also known as Ghost Plants. On the other hand whoever named them Indian Pipes must have looked at them while standing on their head.
Monotropa uniflora
Lacking chlorophyll these plants can’t photosynthesize and have no real use for sunlight so they don’t mind the deep shade of the woods. They are myco-heterotroph – they get their nutrients and energy from mycorrhiza fungi (symbiotic between a fungus and the roots of a plant – in this case the trees) that it is parasitic upon.
If your wondering – I took these photos in the rain. I never did learn to get out of it.
If you see Corpse Plants you know you’re in a good place to hunt mushrooms since they prefer rich woods. These were found in Stone Valley, Town of Colton, NY where if you can ignore the attraction of the Raquette River and it’s numerous waterfalls you’ll find a wide range of woodland wildflowers and mushrooms. Here are a couple.
This section of the river is so powerful you don’t have to worry about drowning if you fall in. You’ll be bashed to death on the rocks long before you breath water.
To make matter worst there are a number of hydro dams that release water without warning so keeping out of the river bed is always a good idea.
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Back to the Corpse Flower.
‘Bloom’ time is June to September so keep your eyes out for ghosts when in the woods this summer. When they get old they turn black. Same if you pick one and let it dry. If your sweetheart is a zombie – this is the flower for them. |
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July 4th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
bashed to death on the rocks. Ouch, or Eina!
July 4th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Huh… we call them Indian Pipes… same Latin name though.
July 4th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
What an amazing flower. I’ve heard of Indian Pipe, but have never seen one, not even in pictures, till now. Thanks!
Please watch out for those rocks.
July 4th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Very interesting…when you mentioned that when they appear, it should be good to hunt mushrooms, do you know which kinds typically grow near them?
July 4th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Dear Mr. WiseA**
You have to know that is about my favorite flower right ?
Hope you didn’t catch cold while in the rain .. but I have to admit I like being in the garden, in light rain .. the sound is quiet .. the smell is pleasant … it is all GOOD : )
July 4th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Its name simply drives me away, I do not like it. I prefer that similar to WiseAxxx which sounds so great and intelligent.
But the river is fantastic, though “bashed to death” must not be good.
July 5th, 2009 at 12:40 am
These are very interesting and creepy looking plants, but I would be someone who would be completely distracted by the river.
July 5th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I have never seen anything quite like that!
July 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Wow – those photographs are just amazing!!!
July 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Cool–I’ve seen Indian Pipes near our house in the forest but didn’t realize they bloom so early and for so long. I saw them early last fall! We just drove through your neck of the woods on the way to O! Canada! but didn’t get to stop, sadly. Hard not to. So many roadside flowers I wanted to check out, to speak nothing of the woods.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
That is awesome! Never seen one. I love the waterfall too. You must live in a wonderful place.
July 6th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Very cool! And just the thought of rain… Well, let’s just wait another 4 months and we’ll have some here. And mushrooms. Though no corpse flower…
July 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Just happened on to your site trying to identify a flower in our woods. Turns out to be a Canada lily. We are in Lyons, NY between Syracuse and Rochester. Is this a common spot for them as I’ve never seen one before. Just love your site.
Thanks for all of the beautiful photos!
Lynn
July 7th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Awesome, never seen such a flower in Malaysia and the waterfalls are breathtaking.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
My first impression of that flower was eerie or creepy, but after looking at the photo I find it quite beautiful in an otherworldy way. Great photos too by the way.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I love monotropa! (I’ve never heard them called Corpse flower before, we call them just Indian Pipe or monotropa here0. It’s so ghostly looking and then when it fades, the seedheads are pretty cool. I took photos of some seedheads back in the spring in a park in Liverpool, but since I don’t intend to return to that community anytime soon, I’ll have to look for Indian Pipes around the woods here.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:00 am
My Grandfather Floyd Seamans introduced me to these strange plants nearly fifty years ago.I have read dozens of articles on them,and even the experts don’t seem to know that they were probably also called ghost plants because they glow in the dark! If you find some,go back in complete darkness and you’ll have a pleasant suprise.I have lots on my property in rural Susquehanna (speaking of indians),Pa.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:38 am
Wow those flowers are amazing, never seen anything like it before.