A plant with a yellowish stem that bears a single drooping flower, native to North America and north-eastern Asia. It lacks chlorophyll and obtains nourishment via symbiotic fungi in its roots.
水晶兰
Monotropa uniflora, family Monotropaceae
Example sentencesExamples
The flowers are inodorous, and appear from June until September; their resemblance to a pipe has given rise to the names Indian pipe or Pipe-plant.
Because Indian pipe is an indirect parasite of the autotrophic plant, it is sometimes referred to as an epiparasite.
They appear to be parasitic on the fungi as no benefit to the fungus from its association with the Indian pipe has been discerned.
The Indian pipe has also been called Ice-Plant, Ghost-Plant, and Corpse-Plant.
The Indian pipe is a saprophyte, living chiefly on the decaying roots of other plants, particularly trees.
Definition of Indian pipe in US English:
Indian pipe
noun
A plant with a yellowish stem that bears a single drooping flower, native to North America and northeastern Asia. It lacks chlorophyll and obtains nourishment via symbiotic fungi in its roots.
水晶兰
Monotropa uniflora, family Monotropaceae
Example sentencesExamples
The Indian pipe has also been called Ice-Plant, Ghost-Plant, and Corpse-Plant.
The Indian pipe is a saprophyte, living chiefly on the decaying roots of other plants, particularly trees.
Because Indian pipe is an indirect parasite of the autotrophic plant, it is sometimes referred to as an epiparasite.
The flowers are inodorous, and appear from June until September; their resemblance to a pipe has given rise to the names Indian pipe or Pipe-plant.
They appear to be parasitic on the fungi as no benefit to the fungus from its association with the Indian pipe has been discerned.