Monotropa uniflora

Monotropa uniflora
Monotropa uniflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Monotropa
Species: M. uniflora
Binomial name
Monotropa uniflora
L.

Monotropa uniflora, also known as the Ghost Plant, Indian Pipe, or Corpse Plant is a herbaceous perennial plant, formerly classified in the family Monotropaceae, but now included within the Ericaceae. It is native to temperate regions of Asia, North America and northern South America, but with large gaps between areas.[1] It is generally scarce or rare in occurrence but is common or even ubiquitous in some areas, such as many parts of eastern North America.

Unlike most plants, it is white and does not contain chlorophyll. Instead of generating energy from sunlight, it is parasitic, more specifically a myco-heterotroph. Its hosts are certain fungi that are mycorrhizal with trees, meaning it ultimately gets its energy from photosynthetic trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments as in the understory of dense forest. The complex relationship that allows this plant to grow also makes propagation difficult.

The plant is sometimes completely white but commonly has black flecks and a pale pink coloration.[2] Rare variants may have a deep red color.

The stems reach heights of 10-30 cm, clothed with small scale-leaves 5-10 mm long. As its scientific name suggests, and unlike the related Monotropa hypopitys (but like the closely related Monotropastrum humile), the stems bear only a single flower, 10-15 mm long with 3-8 petals. It flowers from early summer to early autumn.

Like most mycoheterotrophic plants, M. uniflora associates with a small range of fungal hosts, all of them members of Russulaceae [3].

M. uniflora displaying its common, light pink coloring.
M. uniflora displaying its common, light pink coloring. 
Monotropa uniflora displaying the rare red coloration.
Monotropa uniflora displaying the rare red coloration. 
Monotropa uniflora displaying a pink coloration.
Monotropa uniflora displaying a pink coloration. 
Monotropa uniflora displaying a red coloration.
Monotropa uniflora displaying a red coloration. 
Montropa uniflora stem detail.
Montropa uniflora stem detail. 
Montropa uniflora flowering part detail.
Montropa uniflora flowering part detail. 
Montropa uniflora growing in numbers at Camano Island State Park.
Montropa uniflora growing in numbers at Camano Island State Park

References

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Monotropa uniflora — Monotrope uniflore Monotrope uniflore …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Monotropa uniflora — vienažiedė gluosvė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Gluosvinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Monotropa uniflora), paplitęs rytų Azijoje ir Šiaurės ir Pietų Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Monotropa uniflora angl. Indian pipe šaltinis Valstybinės… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Monotropa uniflora — Indian In di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. ?, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. {Hindu}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to India… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Monotropa uniflora — ID 54881 Symbol Key MOUN3 Common Name Indianpipe Family Monotropaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AK, AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME,… …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Monotropa uniflora — noun small waxy white or pinkish white saprophytic woodland plant having scalelike leaves and a nodding flower; turns black with age • Syn: ↑Indian pipe, ↑waxflower • Hypernyms: ↑wildflower, ↑wild flower • Member Holonyms: ↑Monotropa, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Monotropa uniflora — …   Википедия

  • Monotropa uniflora L. — Symbol MOUN3 Common Name Indianpipe Botanical Family Monotropaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • ВЕРТЛЯНИЦА ОДНОЦВЕТКОВАЯ (MONOTROPA UNIFLORA L.) — см. Многолетнее растение, беловатое, лишенное хлорофилла, с кор неподобным органом гнездооб разной формы, мелко и густоразветвленным. Стебель неветвистый, высотой до 20 см. . Цветки одиночные, верхушечные, поникшие, продолговато колокольчатые.… …   Лесные травянистые растения

  • Monotropa — Fichtenspargel (Monotropa hypopitys) Systematik Kerneudikotyledonen Asteriden …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Monotropa — hypopitys Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

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