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Saprophytic Plants

These are plants without chlorophyll so they cannot manufacture their own food.  They depend on decaying material in the forest floor.  They depend on a well developed soil, and do not need the sun, so they are usually found in the deep shade of well developed forests.

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)  [Photograph 1-2]

Perennial, waxy-white or pinkish, turning black with age.  Leaves are scale-like along entre stem. Flowers are single, white, and bell-shaped, nodding or curved to one side at first, then erect in seed pods. The Nlaka’pmx used ashes or a powder from the plant medicinally to rub on sores that would not heal. The Cherokee gave the pulverized root to children for fits, epilepsy, and convulsions, the crushed plant was rubbed on bunions or warts, and the juice and water were used to wash sore eyes. The Woodlands Cree chewed the flowers for a toothache. The Mohegan used an infusion of root and leaves for pains from colds, and to bring down fever.  The Thompson used the powdered plant for sores that would not heal by rubbing into the sores.

From Dr. Charles F. Millspaugh’s American Medicinal Plants (1892).  “The medical history of the plant begins with its use by the American Aborigines as an application in " sore eyes;" they valued a mixture of the juice with water highly as a soothing and often curative measure. Of this property Dr. Kunze (1878) says in corroboration : "This is a drug very highly recommended^-for overcoming ner­vous irritability, epilepsy, chorea, etc., when used in large doses-inwardly, of course-and for ophthalmic as well as other inflammations of delicate mucous sur­faces outwardly applied, either in its fresh state or the preserved juice. Dr. Kinze mentions the drug as " tonic, nervine, sedative and antispas­modic." The former uses of the herb in spasms of children, epileptiform and chorea-like, gave it the popular names so characterizing it. Dr. Stewart claimed that the dried herb was an excellent substitute for opium, "…easing pain, comforting the stomach, and causing sleep."

Pinesap (Hypopitys monotropa): [Photograph 3-4]

Yellowish to pinkish, usually solitary, turns black with age, and scale-like bracts. Flowers nodding at first, then straighten upright prior to seeding.  The roots share the same mycorrhizal fungus as some pine and spruce trees. Nutrients from conifers pass through the fungus to the pinesap.

The Kwakiutl considered this plant an ingredient to be used in a love potion.

Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea): [Photograph 5-6]

A tall perennial (dies back each year) saprophytic plant with scale-like leaves near the base.  Flowers are pale yellow with 5 petals fused into an urn-shaped cup.  Plant grows 2-3 feet high.  Stems are sticky. Generally grows under coniferious trees.  Some 40-50 flowers form a spike-like raceme. Entire plant is yellowish- to reddish-brown, becoming rather harsh and dry as it ages.  It produces a large number of tiny seeds.

The Cheyenne used a cold infusion of the ground stems and berries for lung hemorrhages, and washing wounds, being somewhat astringent.  The Kawalisu ate the stems raw, roasted, or baked.  The Jemez smoked the plant in the Kiva as a ceremonial medicine.  The Okanagan took and infusion of roots for gonorrhea.

Gnome Plant (Hemitomes Congestum): [Photograph 7-9]

The odd floral characteristics make this the only member of its genus in the world.  It is considered an extremely rare species, grows in only a few spots from British Columbia to Northern California.  It’s a plant that should be well-protected.

Note: I want to thank Ahhpook (An excellent IReporter) for encouraging me to do this article.