Monotropa uniflora (Indian Pipe): Minnesota Wildflowers

Monotropa uniflora (Indian Pipe)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:	Monotropa
Family:	Monotropaceae (Indian Pipe)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part shade, shade; moist rich woods, acidic soil, often under pines
Bloom season:	June - September
Plant height:	late spring through summer
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Single flowers ½ to 1 inch long nod bell-like from the end of each stem. The 4 to 6 (usually 5) translucent white petals are barely discernable from the reduced sepals and faint, scale like leaves that fall over the flower head. All parts of this frail, ghostly plant blacken quickly from bruises and the dry air.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are non-functional and have reduced down to frail, lose scale-like appendages along the stem and are less than one inch in length. Stems occur singly or in dense clusters from the roots, break easily when new, and are translucent white like the flowers.

Fruit:

During seed set and capsule formation, stem dries down to a twig-like stalk with an upturned seed capsule that can persist into the next growing season.

Notes:

This species can be found throughout the forested eastern half of Minnesota and I've observed them frequently throughout my woodland wanderings. Like its closely related species, Monotropa hypopitys (Pinesap), it produces no chlorophyll, and like fungi, is not dependent upon light and can thrive in the shadiest of places. Since it cannot produce its own food it is sustained by the green plants around it. This relationship is not direct as its roots cannot directly tap into the food resources of other plant roots. The transfer is facilitated by mycorrhizal fungi that connect into both host and recipient roots and carbohydrates are passed along. This fungi dependent relationship is called mycotropism.

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More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken at Savanna Portage State Park, and Mike Peters, taken just west of Wadena, MN

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Amanda in Star Island, Cass Lake
on: 2010-07-20 19:17:47

I saw some of these growing on the South Shore Campground and near the canoe storage at Camp Unistar on Star Island in Cass Lake

Posted by: Lynn in Bemidji
on: 2010-08-19 11:01:12

I thought it was a mushroom and included it my 'Northwoods Schrooms' YouTube. I took some nice closeups. What a curious plant it is!

Posted by: Steve in Boundary Waters - near Oyster, Hustler, Finger Lakes
on: 2010-10-22 12:36:12

Our group saw two or three clusters of these around the 4th of July 2010, two days after heavy amounts of rain. Like Lynn, we thought they were mushrooms as first. Good thing we didn't touch them. I hear they are very delicate.

Posted by: Kathryn in Whitewater State Park on the Dakota Trail, western wooded ri
on: 2011-08-17 18:55:08

We saw 3 freshly up clusters on the Dakota Trail. 6 different mushroom species were nearby. Aug. 16, 2011.

Posted by: Bob in Elko/New Market - just south of Burnsville
on: 2011-09-17 21:39:48

My two sons and I were building a fort out in the woods when this plant caught my eye. I've never come across this and I grew up in these woods. Thank you for the information on this plant.