1. ?Pea shooter? Also called cone false sand crystal orchid

Its plants have no chlorophyll, cannot perform photosynthesis, and cannot produce organic nutrients by themselves, so they are They obtain nutrients from corpses, animal tissues or withered plants. They are different from parasitic plants because the plants are independent and do not need to rely on their hosts. They are typical heterotrophs.

It is precisely because of these characteristics that this plant has very strict requirements for the growing environment. They usually grow in dark and humid litter.

2. What is quite special is that although they are angiosperms, they cannot carry out photosynthesis. Crystal orchid, a saprophytic plant, relies on the fungi in its roots to provide nutrients. Phytic fungi decompose and utilize the humus in the soil, and transfer part of the nutrients to the crystal orchid for growth. Judging from the strange growth habits of the crystal orchid, it is more like a fungus such as a mushroom than a higher plant.

Non-toxic. As for efficacy, due to the rarity of this plant, there is currently no record of medicinal value. But based on its growth environment and morphological characteristics, I speculate that it has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing away heat and cooling blood.

3. The structure of the cone orchid is very simple, with only one stem and one flower. It looks like a "crystal pipe". The scales on the stems are its leaves, and the "pipe" parts are their flowers. The shape of the flower is determined by the pistil. It can be seen from the anatomical diagram that the pistil, which is integrated with the ovary and stigma, is shaped like a "bowling ball". The lead-blue, funnel-shaped top is the stigma, and 8-12 filaments with coarse hairs, like A silk bag envelops the "bowling ball". The yellow anthers form a circle around the stigma. The outermost transparent petals wrap the filaments with a layer. This is the structure of the flower. When the fruit matures, the lower part of the "bowling ball" will expand into a pot-bellied ball shape, which is where the name "cone" comes from.

It is uncommon to be used as medicine. It is very beautiful and lives in a deep environment. Bring your own camera. Very special.