Monotropa uniflora
(Indian Pipe)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:

    Common Names: Indian Pipe, Ghost Plant, Ghost Pipe, Corpse Plant
    Synonyms: Monotropa brittonii
    Lifespan: Perennial
    Zones: 2 - 10
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: June - September
    Status: Native
    Range:

Monotropa uniflora, or Indian Pipe, is native to most of the United States, except six southwestern and Rocky Mountain states. It grows in dry to moist, rich, humusy woods, sometimes in deep shade. It can bloom any time from early summer through early fall, and it seems to change each year depending a lot on rainfall. The plant has no chlorophyll, and is completely white; since it doesn't need light, it can grow in deep shade. It has a single white flower on the end of each white stalk; sometimes many stalks arise next to each other from the same plant.

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

Go Back

Back to The Plants.

Back to A-Z Listing.