Status: Native
Synonyms:
Hypopitys latisquama Rydberg
Hypopitys monotropa Crantz
Monotropa hypopitys Linnaeus var. latisquama (Rydberg) Kearney & Peebles
Monotropa latisquama (Rydberg) Hulten
Monotropa hypopitys is a saprophyte-- it has no chlorophyll and feeds on organic matter in the soil. In fact, on first glance it isn't
even clear that it is a plant rather than a fungus. Monotropa used to be classified in its own family, called
the Monotropaceae. The flower is structurally identical to the Ericaceae however, and it is now considered in this
family.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Monotropa hypopitys, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Bursum Road near Bearwallow turnoff, Aug. 5, 2007
Monotropa hypopitys, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak Turnoff, Aug. 12, 2008
Monotropa hypopitys, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger, Bill Norris & Leith Young, Mogollon Mtns., Bursum Road, Redstone Trailhead, Aug. 1, 2009
Monotropa hypopitys, DAZ herbarium specimen, collector Dale A. Zimmerman 2914, 11 September 1980, NM 15 near Signal Peak Road
Back to the Index