Latest Interpretation of the Flower Language and Legends of Monotropa uniflora
Monotropa uniflora is also known as Dream Orchid, Water Orchid Grass, Silver Key, Flower of Death, etc. It is not an orchid, nor a fungus, but a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Monotropa in the family Ericaceae (Pyrolaceae). Because it never performs photosynthesis and obtains nutrients from decaying plants, it is called the Flower of Death. Now let us take a look at the flower language and legends of Monotropa uniflora!
The Flower Language of Monotropa uniflora
Spirit of Beauty, Fragile and Guileless. The flower language of Monotropa uniflora varies with flower color. White represents sincerity and harmlessness, fragility and guilelessness; yellow represents deep affection, thank you for your love; green represents love's story, I just like you; blue represents pure love, I only care about you; purple represents romance, it's wonderful to have you; pink represents love's story, loving you for a lifetime.
The Habits of Monotropa uniflora
Monotropa uniflora obtains its organic nutrition entirely from the soil. The entire epidermis of its roots is covered with densely packed hyphae of a certain fungus, and the mycelium is 1 to 2 times thicker than the epidermis itself. The tips of the small roots are within the fungal sheath, and individual or bundled hyphae separate from the fungal sheath on all sides. This differs from parasitic fungi, because the latter's hyphae remain only on the root surface and do not invade the root tissues. Obviously, in Monotropa uniflora it is the hyphae that take on the task of supplying nutrients, and the hyphae physiologically replace the role of the root hairs of Monotropa uniflora.
The Legend of Monotropa uniflora
In nature, Monotropa uniflora is not a rare “ghost” that is seldom seen. As long as one knows its habits and chooses the right place and time, anyone can behold its beauty. The best season to admire Monotropa uniflora is generally around mid-April in the south, and slightly later in the north. The Monotropa uniflora seen during this period is at its most perfect. Too early, and Monotropa uniflora has not yet sprouted; too late, and because Monotropa uniflora gradually ages, brown spots appear on it, and one can no longer appreciate its clear, transparent, dreamlike beauty.
Because of its unique habits and wondrous appearance, Monotropa uniflora often appears as the flower of ghosts in traditional Chinese martial arts novels and legends. It is either deified as an immortal herb that can bring the dead back to life, or regarded as an evil object possessing supernatural power that can kill people invisibly, and even its delicate fragrance is described as terrifying. Perhaps this is the origin of its names “Ghost Grass” and “Dream Orchid”. At the same time, some people call it the flower of the underworld, or saprophytic flower. In fact, Monotropa uniflora has neither the magic to turn the tide nor the ability to harm or kill people; it is instead a good folk remedy with a mild herbal taste that can treat chronic cough due to weakness.