GHOSTPIPE 



Thalesia uniflora (Linnaeus) Britton 



Ghostpipe is one of the strange plants parasitic on the roots of 

 various herbs. It frequents dry or moist woodlands, and is one of our 

 spring flowers. Like other similar parasitic plants, it lacks chlorophyll, 

 and hence all green coloration. The foliage, too, is greatly reduced, the 

 leaves being represented by a few inconspicuous scales. The plant be- 

 longs to the Broomrape Family. Some botanists use the name Aphyl- 

 lon instead of Thalesia. 



Ghostpipe occurs from South Carolina and Texas northward to 

 Newfoundland and Ontario. 



The specimen sketched grew on Plummers Island, near Washing- 

 ton, District of Columbia. 



PLATE I56 



