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Ericaceae
Monotropa

Monotropa uniflora Linnaeus. Common name: Common Ghost-pipe, Indian Pipes. Phenology: Jun-Oct; Aug-Dec. Habitat: In a wide variety of moist to dry forests. Distribution: NL (Labrador) and AK south to c. FL, TX, CA; e. Asia.

Glossary (beta)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: A preliminary molecular study suggests that splitting of worldwide Monotropa uniflora into several geographic species or varieties may be warranted (Neyland & Hennigan 2004). We tentatively remove Mexico, Central America, and South America from the distribution of Monotropa uniflora, based on the morphology of these plants and preliminary findings in Keesling, Broe, & Freudenstein (2021) that Mexican accessions clade separately. Asian material needs evaluation as well.

Synonymy ⓘ: = S, Keesling (2020); < Monotropa uniflora L. — Ar, C, Can, F, Fl5, FNA8, G, Il, K4, Meso4.1, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Luteyn et al (1996), Wallace (1975); Monotropa uniflora L. Basionym: Monotropa uniflora L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Monotropa uniflora - FNA8

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 1

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Translucent-white perennial (all parts) growing in clumps in a variety of moist to dry forest types throughout North America.

Stems: Stems smooth, usually several clumped, changing from translucent-white (tinged with pale pink) to black after fruiting.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, clasping, small and scale-like, sharp-tipped.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary at ends of stems, translucent white (same as whole plant), nodding or slightly raised, bell-shaped, about ½ in. long, consisting of 3-6 petals and 10 stamens.

Fruits: Fruit a capsule that turns brown and upright with time.

Comments: A mycoheterotroph, lacking chlorophyll and obtaining nutrients via underground fungi associated with tree roots.

Height: 2-12 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Translucent-white perennial (all parts) growing in clumps in a variety of moist to dry forest types throughout North America.

stems: Stems smooth, usually several clumped, changing from translucent-white (tinged with pale pink) to black after fruiting.

leaves: Leaves alternate, clasping, small and scale-like, sharp-tipped.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary at ends of stems, translucent white (same as whole plant), nodding or slightly raised, bell-shaped, about ½ in. long, consisting of 3-6 petals and 10 stamens.

fruits: Fruit a capsule that turns brown and upright with time.

comments: A mycoheterotroph, lacking chlorophyll and obtaining nutrients via underground fungi associated with tree roots.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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