Monotropa uniflora

2012-11-26T20:15:04Z

Itsdavidbaxter: corrected spelling of Monotropa

{{italic title}}
{{taxobox
|name = ''Monotropa uniflora''
|image = Indian_pipe_PDB.JPG
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Asterids]]
|ordo = [[Ericales]]
|familia = [[Ericaceae]]
|genus = ''[[Monotropa]]''
|species = '''''M. uniflora'''''
|binomial = ''Monotropa uniflora''
|binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
|}}

'''''Monotropa uniflora''''', also known as the '''Ghost Plant''', '''Indian Pipe''', or '''Corpse Plant''' is a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]], formerly classified in the family [[Monotropaceae]], but now included within the [[Ericaceae]]. It is native to temperate regions of [[Asia]], [[North America]] and northern [[South America]], but with large gaps between areas.<ref>Ray Neyland, Melissa K. Hennigan [http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&issn=0008-7475&volume=069&issue=04&page=0265 "A Cladistic Analysis of Monotropa uniflora.."]</ref> It is generally scarce or rare in occurrence.

Unlike most plants, it is white and does not contain [[chlorophyll]]. Instead of generating energy from sunlight, it is [[parasitic]], more specifically a [[myco-heterotroph]]. Its [[host (biology)|hosts]] are certain fungi that are [[mycorrhiza]]l with trees, meaning it ultimately gets its energy from [[photosynthetic]] trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments as in the understory of dense forest. The complex relationship that allows this plant to grow also makes [[plant propagation|propagation]] difficult.

The plant is sometimes completely white but commonly has black flecks and
a pale pink coloration.<ref>David Matthews [http://graingenes.org/IndianPipes "Indian Pipes, Ithaca NY"]</ref> Rare variants may have
a deep red color.

The stems reach heights of 10–30 cm, clothed with small scale-[[leaf|leaves]] 5–10 mm long. As its scientific name suggests, and unlike the related ''[[Monotropa hypopitys]]'' (but like the closely related ''[[Monotropastrum humile]]''), the stems bear only a single [[flower]], 10–15 mm long with 3-8 petals. It flowers from early summer to early autumn.

Like most mycoheterotrophic plants, ''M. uniflora'' associates with a small range of fungal hosts, all of them members of [[Russulaceae]].<ref>S. Yang, D.H. Pfister [http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/abstract/98/4/535 "Monotropa uniflora plants of eastern Massachusetts form mycorrhizae with a diversity of russulacean fungi."]</ref>

{{Gallery
|width=250
|lines=3
|File:Indian Pipe - Stem Detail Macro.jpg|''Montropa uniflora'' stem detail.
|File:Indian Pipe - Flowering Part Macro.jpg|''Montropa uniflora'' flowering part detail.
|File:Monotropa uniflora 3270.JPG|alt6=Photograph of flower interior.|Each of ten anthers open via two curving slits.
|File:Indianpipes.jpg|alt1=Photograph|''M. uniflora'' displaying its common, light pink coloring.
|File:Rouge_Monotropa.jpg|alt2=Photograph|''Monotropa uniflora'' displaying the rare red coloration.
|File:Pink_indian_pipes.jpg|alt3=Photograph|''Monotropa uniflora'' displaying a pink coloration.
|File:Red_indian_pipes.JPG|alt4=Photograph|''Monotropa uniflora'' displaying a red coloration.
|File:Monotropa uniflora 3277.JPG|alt5=Photograph of flower and stem leaves.|Leaves are scale-like, without chlorophyll, alternating on a waxy stem.
|File:Monotropa uniflora in numbers.jpg|alt7=Photograph of a dense cluster of plants.|''Monotropa uniflora'' growing in numbers at [[Camano Island State Park]].
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://graingenes.org/IndianPipes/ "Indian Pipes, Ithaca NY"] is a photo chronology of their development through the season.
*{{Commons-inline|Monotropa uniflora|''Monotropa uniflora''}}
* Several images are available from the [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOUN3&photoID=moun3_003_avp.tif USDA PLANTS Profile].
* Ca. 100 images are available from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/indianpipe flickr].

[[Category:Ericaceae]]
[[Category:Parasitic plants]]
[[Category:Flora of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Flora of New Jersey]]

[[fr:Monotrope uniflore]]
[[ko:수정난풀]]
[[he:מונוטרופה אוניפלורה]]
[[ja:ギンリョウソウモドキ]]
[[ru:Подъельник одноцветковый]]
[[fi:Monotropa uniflora]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Monotropa uniflora