Wild Guide

Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora

Status

Not common

Size

Height: to 8 inches

Distribution

Scattered nearly statewide

Indian pipe, also called ghost plant or corpse plant, lacks chlorophyll so it’s white, not green. It is sometimes misidentified as a mushroom, but it is a perennial wildflower that blooms from August through October. The urn-shaped flowers are white, eventually turning purple and later black. Since Indian pipe is not dependent on the sun, you will find it in dark, damp places in the woods.

Ecosystem Connections

Indian pipe’s roots join with tree roots, a symbiotic relationship for both the tree and the plant. The Indian pipe receives nourishment from the tree while simultaneously expanding the tree’s absorption network.

Did You Know?

Since an Indian pipe receives energy from feeding off a tree rather than the sun, its flowers rarely survive transplanting. If you happen upon a flowering Indian pipe in the wild, take a picture. Don’t take the flower.

Discover more nature at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide