Indian-pipe Monotropa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mah-no-TROH-puh
- Description
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Ghost Plant is a genus of four species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants that are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Three species are found in North Carolina. This unusual plant has no chlorophyll. It obtains its nutrients by tapping into the resources of trees, indirectly through mycorrhizal fungi (i.e., it is mycoheterotrophic). Because they do not need any sunlight, they can live in very dark sites such as the floor of deep forests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Monotropa
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Has been used as a nervine in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern America
- Distribution:
- Maine to California and from Florida to Alaska. It is absent from the southwest, intermountain west and the central Rocky mountains
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.7 in. nodding solitary flower at end of a scaly stalk; 4-5 petals and 10 stamens; flowers usually occur in clusters
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Pink
- White
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Scale-like waxy-white to pinkish-white; contains no chlorophyll; dries to a blackish color
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
