Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
One of the forest's most unusual and fascinating plants.
From the Forest Floor
Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) is one of the Pacific Northwest forest's most fascinating plants. Its pale, almost translucent appearance makes it look more like something from another world than a flowering plant.
Unlike most plants, Ghost Pipe contains no chlorophyll and does not produce its own food through photosynthesis. Instead, it obtains nutrients through an extraordinary underground relationship with fungi that are connected to the roots of living trees.
Known as a mycoheterotroph, Ghost Pipe reminds us just how interconnected the forest really is. Much of what sustains life above ground begins in the unseen world beneath our feet.
A Place in Herbal History
Ghost Pipe has a documented history in North American herbal medicine. Nineteenth-century practitioners described it as a “nervine”—a term used for herbs associated with calming the nervous system—and recorded its use for restlessness, spasms, and certain painful conditions.
Today, some herbalists use Ghost Pipe tincture for pain and emotional distress. These contemporary practices have grown beyond many of the uses found in older historical records.
Traditional use tells us how people have worked with a plant; it does not establish that a preparation is safe or effective. Research into Ghost Pipe’s chemistry, potential benefits, and safety is still developing.
From Ivory to Amethyst
The pale flowers take on a different appearance in the jar. Our 2026 batch was prepared with fresh Ghost Pipe and high-proof alcohol, developing the rich purple color shown here.
These photographs follow our own batch from forest to jar—a little glimpse into the making of Forest & Sea Apothecary.
A Fleeting Part of the Forest
Our Ghost Pipe is gathered selectively from Pacific Northwest forests. We harvest only the above-ground flowering stems, leaving the underground structures undisturbed and plenty of plants in place.
Each small batch begins with time in the woods, careful observation, and respect for the place it came from.
Take only what we’ll use. Leave plenty behind. Disturb as little as possible.