Indian Pipe Family (Monotropaceae)

Indian Pipe Family (Monotropaceae) Fringed Pinesap Gnome Plant Indian Pipe Pinesap Sugarstick Woodland Pinedrops Types of Flowers

Over the past decade, the standardization of genetic analysis has contributed to a taxonomical upheaval in the botanical world.

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:

• Allotropa - Sugarstick
• Hemitomes - Gnome Plant or Cone Plant
• Monotropa - Indian Pipes and Pinesaps
• Monotropsis - Sweet Pinesap
• Pityopus - California Pinesap
• Pleuricospora - Fringed Pinesap
• Pterospora - Woodland Pinedrops
• Sarcodes - Snow Plant

They 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 fining them. The links in the box point to picture and descriptions of plants in five genera.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels