Ghost flower discovered again in Hunan province

　　双语丨“幽灵之花”水晶兰屡现湖南

　　Ghost flower discovered again in Hunan province

水晶兰不是兰花，也不是蕈类，属于鹿蹄草科植物。纯白的她全身不含叶绿素，不能进行光合作用，只能“寄人篱下”，和菌类共生，靠腐烂的植物获得养分，因此有“冥界之花”“幽灵之花”“腐生花”等。它“生腐土而不污”，不仅有水晶般的形体，也有兰花样的高洁，还带有一丝淡淡的幽香，誉为“花中玉女”。

　　Monotropa uniflora is neither orchid nor mushroom species, but pyrolaceae. Due to its colors and appearance, the flower has been given the moniker ghost plant or corpse plant. More special than its look, the ghostflower does not depend on sunlight to grow but can live in dark environments or even on the floor of a dense forest.

　　水晶兰在一些小说中被描写为致人毙命的毒物，或是起死回生的仙草，甚至连它的幽香也令人毛骨悚然。其实，水晶兰是一味性平和、可医治体虚久咳的良药。

　　The elusive plant frequently features in Chinese martialarts novels, in which it typically possesses extraordinary powers. Rumor has it that the flower has the power of life in its petals - it can bring the dead back from the grave or kill people off. Actually, the ghost flower is a mild plant that can treat chronic cough.

水晶兰非常罕见，生长条件苛刻。世界上已知的水晶兰有5种，中国大约有两种，大多生长在海拔800m～3000m冷凉潮湿的针阔叶混交林间。同时，它也相当娇弱，极易凋谢，一点风吹草动就能让它们受损。

　　The rarely-seen ghost flower needs a very demanding condition. There are 5 kinds of the plant discovered in the world, and two kinds grow in China. The plant likes growing at the altitude of 800m～3000m in the cold and damp mixed coniferous broad leaved forest.

观赏水晶兰的最好时节，南方一般在四月中旬前后，北方可略晚点，这个时期所看到的水晶兰是最完美的。过早，水晶兰尚未萌发；过晚，水晶兰因逐渐老化，身上会出现褐色的斑点，就无法赏识其清澈透明、如梦般的美丽。

　　The best season to watch the ghost flower is around mid-April in the south China, and around the later time in the north China. Otherwise you will miss its clear transparent and dreamy beauty.

　　水晶兰的整个生命过程只有短暂的几个月，只有在良好、和谐的自然环境里，水晶兰才能得以繁衍生息。水晶兰屡现湖南，也为湖南生态良好提供了有力证据。

　　The ghost plant’s whole life just lasts for several months. It can survive only in well-preserved nature. The ghost plant discovered in Hunan time and again also witnesses well-conditioned ecology of Hunan.

2018年4月，郴州桂东县东边山无名山场发现水晶兰，对研究湘南物种很有科学价值。（邓仁湘 摄）

　　In April 2018, the ghost plant was discovered in Guidong county, Chenzhou, Hunan.

2017年5月，怀化沅陵县齐眉界国家森林公园多处发现水晶兰的消息刷爆朋友圈。（齐眉界风光 资料图）

　　In May 2017, the ghost plant was discovered in Qimeijie National Forest Park, Yuanling county, Huaihua, Hunan.

2015年4月，株洲炎陵县桃源洞国家自然保护区发现水晶兰，填补了长株潭植物界一项空白。（桃源洞风光 资料图）

　　In April 2015, the ghost plant was discovered in Taoyuan Cave National Nature Reserve, Yanling county, Zhuzhou, Hunan.

　　编译：张焕勤 据红网、湖南日报等综合整理