Yellow bird’s-nest (Monotropa hypopitys, Sp. Pl.: 387 (1753))

Family: Ericaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 387 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Monotropa

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere to C. America

Description

The Yellow bird’s-nest, scientifically known as Monotropa hypopitys, is a fascinating and unique plant that belongs to the family Ericaceae. First described and documented in the seminal botanical work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, this plant has intrigued botanists and nature enthusiasts alike for centuries.

One of the most striking features of the Yellow bird’s-nest is its appearance and lifestyle. Unlike most plants that rely on photosynthesis to produce energy, Monotropa hypopitys is mycoheterotrophic. This means it obtains its nutrients by parasitizing the mycorrhizal fungi that are associated with the roots of surrounding trees. Due to this reliance on fungal networks, the plant lacks the green pigmentation typically found in photosynthetic plants, giving it a yellow or straw-colored appearance, which lends itself to the common name “Yellow bird’s-nest.”

The habitat of Monotropa hypopitys predominantly spans the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, extending as far south as Central America. This wide distribution suggests that the plant has adapted to a variety of temperate forest ecosystems, particularly favoring shaded, damp environments where mycorrhizal fungi are abundant. It is most commonly found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, thriving under the canopy where direct sunlight is scarce.

Yellow bird’s-nest produces clusters of small, waxy, bell-shaped flowers that emerge from a somewhat fleshy, unbranched stem. The flowers, which bloom from late summer to early fall, are typically pale yellow to reddish-brown and have an interesting nodding habit. The plant’s life cycle and growth pattern are closely aligned with the availability of fungal hosts, which also play a crucial role in its reproductive strategy.

While Monotropa hypopitys may not be as well-known as other members of the Ericaceae family, its unique ecological niche and non-photosynthetic lifestyle make it a subject of ongoing botanical research and interest. Its presence in an ecosystem can be indicative of the health and diversity of fungal networks within the soil, highlighting the intricate and often hidden relationships that sustain forest environments.

In summary, the Yellow bird’s-nest (Monotropa hypopitys) stands as an extraordinary plant within the Ericaceae family due to its mycoheterotrophic mode of nutrition and its distinctive appearance. Found across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere to Central America, it continues to captivate those who study the complex interactions within forest ecosystems.

Common Names

En: Yellow Birdsnest, Yellow Birs’s-nest, Yellow bird’s-nest, Pinesap Indian pipe, Pinesap, Yellow bird’s nest
Be: Пад’ельнік звычайны
Bg: Обикновена гвачка
Ca: Monòtropa
Zh: Song xia lan, 松下兰
Hr: Obični bezlistac
Cs: Hnilák smrkový
Da: Almindelig Snylterod, Snylterod
Nl: Stofzaad, Stofzaad subsp. hypophegea, Stofzaad subsp. hypopitys
Eo: Pinasparago
Et: Harilik seenlill
Fi: Mäntykukka
Fr: Sucepin, Monotrope sucepin
De: Fichtenspargel, Echter Fichtenspargel, Behaarter Fichtenspargel
Ga: Buíán sailí
It: Ipopitide
Kk: Шыршашөп
Lv: Parastā lāčtauce
Lt: Miškinė gluosvė
Gv: Buighan shellee
Se: Beahcelieđđi
No: Vaniljerot
Nb: Vaniljerot
Nn: Vaniljerot
Pl: Korzeniówka pospolita
Ru: Подъельник обыкновенный
Gd: Buíán sailí
Sk: Hniliak smrekový
Sv: Tallört
Zh-tw: 臺灣錫杖花, 錫杖花
Zh-hant: 松下蘭
Cy: Cytwf

Synonyms

• Monotropa japonica (Franch. & Sav.)
• Hypopitys hypopitys ((L.) Small)
• Monotropa nipponica (H.Hara)
• Hypopitys hypophegea ((Wallr.) G.Don)
• Monotropa hypophegea (Wallr.)
• Hypopitys lanuginosa var. rosea (House)
• Hypopitys monotropa (Crantz)
• Monotropa hypopitys subvar. atricha (Domin)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. glabra ((Bernh. ex Rchb.) Hartm.)
• Hypopitys monotropa subsp. hypophegea ((Wallr.) Tzvelev)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. lanuginosa ((Michx.) Purah.)
• Hypopitys multiflora var. glabra (Ledeb.)
• Monotropa hypopitys f. rubra ((Farw.) F.Seym.)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. californica (Domin)
• Monotropa hypopitys subsp. lanuginosa ((Michx.) H.Hara)
• Monotropa glabra (Bernh. ex Rchb.)
• Monotropa hirsuta (Hornem. ex Willk. & Lange)
• Hypopitys dentata (Raf.)
• Monotropa epirrhizium (St.-Lag.)
• Hypopitys latisquama (Rydb.)
• Monotropa hypopitys f. subuniflora (Domin)
• Monotropa lanuginosa var. glabriuscula (Torr.)
• Monotropa lanuginosa var. rubra (Torr.)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. rubra (Farw.)
• Orobanche hypopitys ((L.) Hill)
• Monotropa hypopitys subsp. glabra ((Bernh. ex Rchb.) Schübl. & G.Martens)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. hypophegea ((Wallr.) Wahlenb.)
• Hypopitys racemosa (Raf.)
• Monotropa multiflora (Fritsch)
• Hypopitys lanuginosa ((Michx.) Raf.)
• Monotropa uniflora var. nipponica ((H.Hara) Makino)
• Hypopitys secunda (Raf.)
• Monotropa squamiformis (Dulac)
• Hypopitys fimbriata ((A.Gray) Howell)
• Hypopitys glabra (DC.)
• Monotropa chinensis (Koidz.)
• Hypopitys multiflora (Scop.)
• Hypopitys multiflora var. americana (DC.)
• Monotropa latisquama ((Rydb.) Hultén)
• Hypopitys lutea (Gray)
• Hypopitys insignata (E.P.Bicknell)
• Monotropa hypoxya (Spreng.)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. glaberrima (H.Hara)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. gracilescens (Domin)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. hirsuta (Roth)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. latisquama ((Rydb.) Kearney & Peebles)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. americana (Domin)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. fimbriata (Domin)
• Hypopitys europaea (Nutt.)
• Monotropa flagrans (Gilib.)
• Monotropa fimbriata (A.Gray)
• Hypopitys americana ((DC.) Nutt.)
• Monotropa abietina (Dumort.)
• Monotropa taiwaniana (S.S.Ying)
• Monotropa hypopitys subsp. multiflora ((Scop.) Fritsch)
• Monotropa hypopitys var. japonica (Franch. & Sav.)
• Monotropa hypopitys subsp. hypophegea ((Wallr.) Holmboe)
• Monotropa hypopitys f. atricha ((Domin) Kitag.)
• Hypopitys rivini (Rupp.Jun. ex Cess.Passer. & Gibelli)
• Hypopitys stricta (Raf.)
• Monotropa nepalensis (Wall.)
• Monotropa lanuginosa (Michx.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alabama (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Denmark (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Finland (native)
• Florida (native)
• France (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 18, 2019 by Javier López (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Ekaterina Ekaterina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by lachesis lachesis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2020 by Isabelle Meyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2014 by Émile Maurice (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 3, 2021 by José Cuesta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2022 by Albert Galoy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 11, 2020 by Matt O (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2020 by Kupková Martina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken May 31, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2016 by Tela Botanica − John DE VOS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Philippe MICHOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Alain CAMBIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Gérard LEVESLIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Jacques HOUDRE (©)

Taken Jun 30, 1852 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2021 by Pietro Brignoli (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Leaf

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by Florence Pradier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2020 by Rino Crisponi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2020 by Rino Crisponi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2022 by Havlíková Petra (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2021 by Beata Zalewska (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:163883-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Monotropa hypopitys L.)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/8249145)

Specifications

Growth