Monotropa uniflora, Indian Pipes

photos by Dennis Kalma

Scientific Name: Common Name: Family: ITIS Number: NRCS Symbol:

Monotropa uniflora L. Indian Pipes Monotropaceae (indian pipes) 23778 MOUN3

Plant: 10-20 cm tall, waxy-white, growing singly or in clumps; turns black upon drying Flower: solitary, nodding, odorless; sepalus usually none; petals 4 or 6, broadly oblong, separate to base but forming tube Leaves: none, reduced to thin bracts on stem Habitat: rich shady woods Range: Newfoundland to British Columbia; south to California; east to Florida Similar Species: Monotopa hypopithys, Pinesap usually has several flowers clustered at the end of each stem and the entire plant is usually tan-yellow Notes: these plants are saprophytic, feeding off decaying plant material in the soil; they have no chlorophyll. They are sometimes placed in the family Pyrolaceae (wintergreens).

		flower