Ghost plants have been discovered for the first time in a national nature reserve in Guixi City of east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo/Screenshot on CNSTV)
A stretch of over 300 ghost plants was discovered for the first time in a national nature reserve in Guixi City of east China's Jiangxi Province, which contains clue to the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine resources.
The rare sight of over 300 ghost plants in a stretch was spotted by forest ranger Xiong Chuanguo at an altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level in the Yangjifeng National Natural Reserve. The ghost plant, also known as Indian pipe, is a herbaceous perennial plant that does not contain chlorophyll, which is generally scarce or rare in occurrence.
"I've lived here for more than 40 years, and it's the first time for me to see this. Now I patrol here twice a day, once in the morning and the other in the afternoon, to observe their growth and make sure that no one disturbs them," said Xiong, forest ranger of the Yangjifeng National Natural Reserve.
The ghost plant mostly grows in mountain forest at 800 to 3,850 meters above sea level, and is a very rare and beautiful flower that emits white lights in dark.
"It is rare to see ghost plants in large flora as the plant usually grows in special environment with abundant detritus. It is rather dwarf but weird in shape, with the whole plant being white without any chlorophyll for photosynthesis, but it absorbs nutritions from rotten plants," said Zhu Longxing, chief engineer of the Yangjifeng National Natural Reserve.
The ghost plant is not toxic but has medicinal value. It would turn dark brown after being dried in summer, which is effective to treat diseases of lung deficiency and cough.