Monotropa hypopitys L.

Spice Detail Fruit In the field 1

Family: MONOTROPACEAE

Genus: Monotropa

Sinònims: Monotropa hypopitys L. var. glabra Roth Monotropa hypopitys L. subsp. hypophegea (Wallr.) Holmboe

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Boreo-subalpin

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Saprophyte plant of humid forest.

Characteristics: This is one of the few plants in the Balearic Islands that nourishes only through fungus, it nether photosynthesises nor is it a parasite of other plants; and such, this plant is not green, but cream or yellow coloured. It can only be found when flowering when its inflorescence surfaces above ground, in the form of a small stem, less than a hand high, all flowers are on the upper part of this stem and are pendulate; become upright when mature. Flowers are in the form of small white bells, and also are hanging. Can be found amongst the leaf litter of pine and oak forests of the Serra de Tramuntana.