This is one of my top 10 plants because of its ecology. M.uniflora doesn't have any chlorophyll and thus can't photosynthesize. It gets its nutrients by parasitizing mycorrhizal fungi connected to tree roots.
This plant has some medicinal properties too. It's been the "in" thing to make a tincture from them. It's said it can treat pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
This is an old photo of mine from August 2024.
This stuff is so interesting to me.
I've got another fun fact that adjacently relates to this plant.
So the ghost pipe leeches off of those mycorrhizal fungi, but those fungi share a symbiotic relationship with the tree. The fungi help the trees absorb water and nutrients and the fungi get sugar in return. Some of the most well known plants wouldn't be nearly as present if this relationship didn't happen. Take wild blueberries for example. They grow in acidic soil that is poor in nutrients. They'd die without these fungi. While not all mycorrhizal relationships are necessary, a vast majority of plants have this relationship.
That blew my mind when I first read it, lol. Sorry for ranting.