Monotropa hypopitys
(Pinesap)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:

    Common Names: Pinesap, Dutchman's Pipe, False Beech-drops, Yellow Bird's-Nest
    Synonyms: Hypopitys americana, Hypopitys fimbriata, Hypopitys insignata, Hypopitys lanuginosa, Hypopitys latisquama, Hypopitys monotropa, Monotropa lanuginosa, Monotropa latisquama, Monotropa hypopithys
    Lifespan: Perennial
    Zones: 2 - 10
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: June - August
    Status: Native
    Range:

Monotropa hypopitys, or Pinesap, is native to most of the United States, except Nevada, Utah and North Dakota. It grows in dry to moist, rich, humusy woods, sometimes in deep shade; it usually occurs in acid soil, and often in pine woods. It can bloom any time from early summer through early fall. The plant has no chlorophyll, and is either yellow or red; since it doesn't need light, it can grow in deep shade. It has a stalk of several flowers.

This is one of only two species in its genus. The other is Monotropa uniflora. It also has no chlorophyll, but it can easily be distinguished from this plant because it is white, and it has a single flower per stem, while Monotropa hypopitys is cream to red colored, and it has multiple flowers per stem. See photos for comparison.

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