MONOTROPA L. - INDIAN-PIPE
Scientific Description:
Indirectly parasitic herbs, without chlorophyll. Inflorescence racemose. Petals free (in Türkiye), saccate at base. Stamens without appendages, anthers dehiscing by slits; pollen grains single, lacking viscin threads. Ovary with axile placentation below, parietal above; nectary with spur-like projections. Fruit a loculicidal capsule; seeds numerous, small, testa with appendages at both ends. Cells elongated, thin-walled.
Reference:
Stevens PF (1978). Monotropa L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 107.
Public Description:
Monotropa, commonly known as “Indian-pipe”, is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants but do not contain chlorophyll. It spreads in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but is often scarce or rare. There are 2 species in the world and 1 species (1 taxon) in Türkiye. These plants are parasitic because they do not include chlorophyll, and are usually take nutrients through fungi. Thus they can live in the dark conditions of deep forests, because they do not need any sunlight at all.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa,Accessed date: 22.08.2017.
Anonymous 2 (2017). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Ericaceae/Monotropa/,Accessed date: 22.08.2017.
Terzioğlu S (2012). Monotropa L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 411–412.
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