Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe)

Monotropa uniflora L.

Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Ericales	Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family	Monotropaceae	Monotropa family, which lack chlorophyll and get nutrition from parasitizing fungi
Genus	Monotropa	From Greek monos, “one,” and tropos, “direction,” since flowers always turn to the same side or, according to another source, referring to the sharp curve in the stem
Species	uniflora	Single-flowered

About plant names...

Indian pipes are natives of the temperate regions of Asia, South America, and North America. They are plants, members of the blueberry family, but unusual ones. Most plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into the energy they need to grow. Indian pipes lack chlorophyll—that’s why they’re white—and instead get their energy from parasitizing certain fungi. The fungi, in turn, derive their energy from trees. Indian pipes are able to grow on dark forest floors because they don’t need light. They even grow in the dark! (Remarkably, there are almost 3,000 species that similarly lack chlorophyll, and get their energy from other means. Since they don’t need to be green, they come in all kinds of colors.)

Identification: The ghostly pale color of these fragile-looking plants, and the nodding tops, makes them quite unique. In addition to white, plants may also be pink or, rarely, red. Plants are 4-10" (10-25 cm) high. Flowers are white, bell-shaped, about ¾" (1.9 cm) long. They often occur in tight groups. Flowers nod downward during most of their lives, but point straight up when forming seeds—the genus, Monotropa, is named for this trait, meaning “once-turned.” Indian pipes appear in rich forests, and are a sign of good hunting grounds for mushrooms.

Rare red form, from a mixed forest near Ithaca, NY, 7/12/2007, by Dave Matthews.

Online References:

Monotropa uniflora on Missouriplants.com

Monotropa uniflora on Tom Volk's Fungi site, at the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin

Monotropa uniflora at the U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Monotropa uniflora on Wikipedia

Monotropa uniflora at the Botanical Society of America

Monotropa uniflora on Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Monotropa uniflora on Michael Kuo's MushroomExpert.com

Monotropa uniflora on CalPhotos

Monotropa uniflora at Illinois Wildflowers

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 13" (23 × 32 cm)

7/16/2021 · Cox Pinnacle, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 5" (12 × 12 cm)

7/15/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, New Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

10/10/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

8/15/2015 · Moose Cave, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 13 × 14" (32 × 34 cm)

After pollination, the normally nodding flowers point upward. · 8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.8 × 6.3 cm) ID is uncertain

7/23/2017 · Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania
≈ 2½ × 3" (6.4 × 7.7 cm)

7/26/2020 · Back River Trail, Eaton Farm Preserve, Wiscasset, Maine
≈ 7 × 6" (17 × 16 cm)

Monotropa brittonii Small

Monotropa uniflora description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

Plants are just emerging from the ground. · 6/28/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

Usually these are nodding, not upright. · 7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 15 cm)

Nashoba Conservation Land on Mt. Lebanon Rd · 7/16/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 12 cm)

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 11 cm)

After pollination, the normally nodding flowers point upward. · 7/14/2013 · Ball Hill Trail, Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Massachusetts
≈ 2½ × 2½" (6.8 × 6.5 cm)

7/15/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, New Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 12 cm)

8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

1/13/2010 · By Philip A. Despo

These are just peeking through after rains. · 7/21/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 5" (18 × 13 cm)

6/15/2007 · Maine · By Kathleen Williamson

7/28/2009 · Pepperell, Massachusetts · By Philip A. Despo

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine
≈ 7 × 8" (16 × 19 cm)

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 7" (12 × 17 cm)

Range:

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