Jan 5, 2020
What pollinates ghost pipe, aka indian pipe? Bees of course. It took me as a surprise,but this parasitic plant (feeds on the fungi associated with trees) is in the ericaceous family, same as blueberries and kin and indeed bees, both bumblebees and "small" bees are noted, come to these flowers. Since they often bloom later in the year when most of the spring plants and bees are gone it would be interesting to learn more about its pollination strategy. Picture and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman.
