Reader Robert Millman sent photos and wrote the following question:
I am new to Gloucester, having bought a home two years ago.
As we were clearing some down trees and brush, we came upon a small stand on what I think are Monotropa, related to Indian Pipes, but do not look like any other pictures I have found. Corliss and another local nursery were not able to provide anything further information.
Can you ask your readers or do you have any suggestions of who I could reach out to?
Thank you
Hello Robert,
Your beautiful clumps of wildflowers are the North American native One-flowered Broom-rape (Orobanche uniflora); also called Naked Broomrape. I can see why you thought it was related to Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), or Ghost Plant. Neither grows green leaves and both produce single flowers, typically seen growing in bunches.
Indian Pipes photo courtesy wikicommons mediaLike Indian Pipes, it is a parasitic plant, which means it does not produce chlorophyll, or green tissue, deriving nutrients by attaching its roots to neighboring plants.
One-flowered Broom-rape photos submitted by Robert Millman
There are over 200 species Orobanche. Host plants for One-flowered Broom-Rapes include species of sunflowers, goldenrods, and sedums. 
Aside from white, Naked Broomrape also flowers in lavender and yellow.
The stems of Sporchia (Orbanche crenata), a species parasitic on the fava bean, are gathered and eaten in the region of Apilia, in southern Italy. Image courtesy wikicommons media.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Reblogged this on Seaside Garden Club and commented:
Maybe we’ll find some wild flowers on our walk at Powder House Hill June 12.
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One-flowered Cancer-root (Orobanche uniflora): A parasitic plant that grows in damp woods. Several stems usually grow up together to a height from 2 to 10 inches. A single downy white or pale lavender flower is at the end of each leafless, stcky, pale-colored stalk. The flower is tube-shaped and flares out into 5 lobes. There are 2 yellow bands inside on lower side of the blossom.
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Kim,
Excellent one here “Wonderful World of the Young.” Great follow-up all the way around! 🙂 Beautiful young in’s
Song: Wonderful World of the Young (1962)
Singer: Andy Williams
Songwriters: Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett
♫♫♫♫ LYRICS ♫♫♫♫
Close your eyes, come with me
And we soon will be
In the wonderful world
Of the young
Hearts remain seventeen
Dreams are evergreen
In the wonderful world
Of the young
Fools may deny it
Wise men know the truth
They have discovered
That love is youth
Take this heart that I give
And we’ll always live
In the wonderful world
Of the young
In the wonderful world
Of the young, mmmm
In the wonderful world
Of the young
Fools may deny it
Wise men know the truth
They have discovered
That love is youth
Take this heart that I give
And we’ll always live
In the wonderful world
Of the young
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