Dutchman's Pipe / Pinesap (Hypopitys monotropa/Monotropa hypopitys)

Growing below mostly pines in a mossy area in a dense mixed hardwood/coniferous forest in NW Georgia (Gordon County), US. June 15, 2018.

Monotropa hypopitys is a nonphotosynthetic, mycoheterotrophic plant that thrives in the dark understories of forests. Because it lacks chlorophyll, it must obtain its nutrients from other sources. It is a parasite on fungi (usually Tricholoma sp.) and an indirect parasite of trees. It obtains nutrients from fungi which are initially obtained from trees.

comments (3)

Christine Young

Lion

Such a difference in color from the autumn blooming ones! Posted 7 years ago
1. Flown Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I may have to change the species name on the ones listed, actually. Alan Weakley has recently separated this color variation into its own genus. It should be called Hypopitys monotropa. I've heard that the red variation will be assigned its own species Hypopitys lanuginosa. I'm going to have to sort that out here at some point soon. :D Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I saw that too. I don’t think it’s been updated on Wikipedia yet though. Posted 7 years ago

The Pinesap

"Monotropa hypopitys" is a herbaceous perennial plant. Unlike most plants, it does not contain chlorophyll; it is a myco-heterotroph, getting its food through parasitism upon fungi rather than photosynthesis. These fungi form a mycorrhiza with nearby tree species.

Info 22 0

Similar species: Ericales

Species identified by Flown Kimmerling