Monotropsis
Monotropsis odorata
genus monotropa and Greek, pygmypipes
Carolina beechdrops, pygmy-pipes, sweet pinesap
absent.
absent.
racemes, arched at emergence from soil, becoming erect in fruit, axis fleshy but not fibrous, usually not persistent after seed dispersal, violet to purple, 0.1–0.4 cm diam. proximal to proximalmost flower.
4–13 cm;
bracts 5–11 × 2–8 mm, scarious at maturity.
nodding at anthesis, erect but not elongating in fruit;
bracteoles usually present.
radially symmetric, nodding;
sepals 5, distinct, lanceolate-ovate;
petals 5, connate, purplish to violet, without basal tubercles, (surfaces ± glabrous), corolla campanulate;
intrastaminal nectary disc present;
stamens 10, included;
filaments uniformly slender, glabrous;
anthers ovoid, without awns, without tubules, dehiscent by 2 oval slits;
pistil 5-carpellate;
ovary 1-locular;
placentation intruded-parietal;
style straight, slender;
stigma capitate, angular, without subtending ring of hairs.
sepals 1.5–10 × 0.5–4 mm;
corolla 5–10 mm, lobes lanceolate-ovate, base saccate, apex rounded to acute;
stamens 3–6 mm;
anthers inverted at anthesis, 0.5 mm diam.;
ovary 1–4 × 1–3 mm, glabrous;
style 2–4 × 0.5–1.5 mm;
stigma whitish to dull purplish, 1 mm diam.
baccate, erect, (fleshy), indehiscent, (axis fleshy).
4–8 mm diam.
25–200, ovoid, not winged.
to 0.6–1 mm diam.
Monotropsis
Monotropsis odorata
Species 1: e, se United States.
Species 1
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Other taxa of Monotropoideae also flower in the fall (e.g., Monotropa hypopitys). There are often associated differences in proportions of flower parts; usually inflorescences and flowers are smaller. The fall-flowering form of Monotropsis odorata in the Carolinas has been called var. lehmaniae. However, H. E. Ahles, who made that combination, later (1967) determined that it is a seasonal phase of M. odorata, a determination supported by R. L. Wilbur (1970b). In Florida, the fall–winter-flowering form of M. odorata has been called M. reynoldsiae. The commonly used distinguishing features are the sizes of the inflorescences and flowers, and the proportion of the calyx to the corolla. These features are variable to a degree in M. odorata, and a range may be seen even in the specimens comprising the holotype of M. reynoldsiae at Gray Herbarium.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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