Indian Pipe Family (Monotropaceae)

Originally the Monotropaceae, better known as the Indian Pipes, were considered a small, unique botanical family of mycotrophic plants that, like some orchid genera, gather their nutritional needs from forest floor fungi. Today they get classified in the Heath family (Ericaceae).

Change in any area usually flows slowly, so the internet is filled with discussions of both Monotropaceae and mycotrophic heath. Either way, the presentations take simple and familiar forms. The family or group of plants consists of eight genera and nine species. Specimens from five genera are presented here.

Monotropaceae grow in coniferous forests around the United States, and depending on the elevation, they bloom from early through late summer.

While they are a summer forest treat, their short bloom time, a couple of weeks or less, means many people miss their often colorful stems and flowers, seeing only the sticky, brown and decaying stalks of their post-flowering phase.

Since most species grow low to the ground, keeping your eyes peeled on the ground in areas around old growth trees is the best tips for finding them.

Fringed Pinesap (Pleuricospora fimbriolata), the only representative in the Pleuricospora genus, grows in the forested areas of the West Coast from British Columbia, south to the Sierra Mountains of California.

Often the flowering head barely pokes above the ground, and it is anchored by a thin, longer stem in the ground (partially showing in the top picture).

The red and white striped stems of the flowering Sugarstick or Candystick (Allotropa virgata) make it an easily identified plant.

When spotted on the forest floor of older growth coniferous forests, mushroom aficionados should take notice because the plant is associated with Matsutake mushrooms.

The picture shows a curves stem. The plant also grows straight, up to a foot above the ground.

Uncommon within their range, Gnome Plants or Cone Plants (Hemitomes congestum), usually growing about one-half inch above the ground in a shallow, cup like, cluster of tiny flowers.

It's a West Coast species that grows in forested ares from British Columbia, south through California.

The Monotropa genus, which is normally called Indian Pipes, actually consists of two species, the all white Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) and the more colorful pinesaps (Monotropa hypopithys).

Plants emerge from the forest floor, with prominent, nodding heads. At the end of their bloom period, when the flowers get ready to seed, the stalks straighten out and look like the pink pinesap in the top picture.

Pinesap also comes in shades of yellow and cream, and it is one of the most common mycotrophic heath, found in coniferous forests throughout the United States, including Alaska.

With the exception of the Southeast, Woodland Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) grow in coniferous forests, typically pine forests.

Depending on their growing location, they are commonly known as Albany beech-drops, giant bird's nest, giant pinedrops or pinedrops.

They are more common in the West than in the East and Upper Midwest, where they are considered either threatened or endangered. The picture highlights the small pink and white flowers growing along the sides of the plant's sticky purple stem.

© 2009-2011 Patricia A. Michaels