The ghost pipe, a fascinating plant native to Ontario and most of North America, is one of nature’s eeriest creations. Its transparent white bloom resembles forest ghosts and lacks chlorophyll, making it a parasitic plant that does not rely on light for photosynthesis. As a result, it can grow in complete darkness and typically thrives in mature, damp, shaded woodlands. The ghost pipe collaborates with mycorrhizal fungi of the species Russula and Lactarius to obtain nutrients and carbohydrates from tree roots, demonstrating how much is concealed beneath the soil’s surface. Overall, this peculiar and unsettling native plant is a wonder of nature.
