Monotropa uniflora L.

One Flower Indian Pipe; Corpse Plant; Ghost Plant

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Indian Pipe is a native achlorophyllous perennial herb in the Heath family (Ericaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Indian Pipe occurs in dry to mesic pine or mixed pine-hardwood forests, in scrub oak woods, in sandhills, and in Longleaf pine forests. Indian Pipe for most of the year exists as short, stubby roots surrounded by and connected to a mass of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae. The fungal hyphae are in turn connected to the roots of conifers. The Indian Pipe obtains sugars produced by photosynthesis in the conifer by way of these fungal connections. So Indian Pipe is a parasite, indirectly parasitizing the conifer by way of the fungal connection. In late summer or autumn 1 to several white or pinkish stems emerge from the soil. These stems are from 1-8 inches in height. The stems are glabrous and have sessile, clasping, rounded scale-like leaves along their length. There is a solitary terminal flower. The flowers are nodding with 5 sepals and 5 petals. The flowers are white or pinkish in color and VERY fragrant. The fruit is a capsule. After pollination, the stem straightens so that the capsule is held erect. The small seed have membranous wings. Indian Pipe is easily damaged. Damaged portions of the plant become black in color. Indian Pipe was the favorite wildflower of poet Emily Dickinson. In 1879 she wrote “'Tis whiter than an Indian Pipe –'Tis dimmer than a Lace –No stature has it, like a Fog when you approach the place –Not any voice imply it here –Or intimate it there –A spirit – how doth it accost-What function hath the Air? This limitless Hyperbole each one of us shall be –'Tis Drama – if Hypothesis it be not Tragedy –!”—A. Diamond.

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Native FACU- (NWPL)

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