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Monotropa uniflora L.

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

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyMonotropaceaeMonotropa family, which lack chlorophyll and get nutrition from parasitizing fungi
GenusMonotropaFrom 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
SpeciesunifloraSingle-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.

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

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

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

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

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Wikipedia

The Botanical Society of America

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

Michael Kuo's MushroomExpert.com

CalPhotos

Illinois Wildflowers

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/16/2021 · Cox Pinnacle, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/5/2021 · Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9 × 13 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/15/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, New Long Loop, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/10/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/10/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/10/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

9/14/2023 · Nature Conservancy Access Trail, Sprague Pond, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

8/15/2015 · Moose Cave, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (59 × 39 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

After pollination, the normally nodding flowers point upward. · 8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/23/2017 · Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Penn­syl­vania · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

Plants are just emerging from the ground. · 6/28/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

Monotropa brittonii Small

 

Monotropa uniflora description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 28 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

Usually these are nodding, not upright. · 7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

Nashoba Conservation Land on Mt. Lebanon Rd · 7/16/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/5/2021 · Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

After pollination, the normally nodding flowers point upward. · 7/14/2013 · Ball Hill Trail, Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/15/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, New Long Loop, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm) ID is uncertain

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

7/28/2009 · By Philip A. Despo

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

These are just peeking through after rains. · 7/21/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

6/15/2007 · Maine · By Kathleen Williamson

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

9/4/2023 · Thorne Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

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

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine · ≈ 7 × 10″ (16 × 25 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm)

Monotropa uniflora (Indian pipe, ghost plant, corpse plant, Indianpipe, Indian pipes)

10/7/2018 · Shepley Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range:

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