374 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



Sepals and petals, 5, the latter roundish, widely open, the 

 flower \ inch across. The flower-scape has a scaly bract or 

 two upon it, with a single nodding flower, rising 3 or 4 inches 

 from the underground stem. 



Many dear little plants belong to the Heath family, and may 

 be looked for in our deep woods, but none is more appealing in 

 its helpless, sweet life than the one-flowered pyrola. To find it 

 is a i-eal delight. 



43. Indian-pipe. Corpse-plant 



Monotropa uniflhra ("turned to one side "). — Family,}itdX\\. 

 Color, white. Leaves, none. Time, June to August. 



Calyx, of 2 to 4, and corolla, of 4 or 5, bract-like scales. 

 Stamens, 8 or 10, with anthers joined horizontally to the fila- 

 ments, opening by 2 chinks. Pistil, i, with a thick style, sur- 

 mounted by a fleshy 4- to 5-rayed stigma. Fruit, a capsule 

 filled with very many minute seeds. Stems, waxy white, with 

 bracts in place of leaves, all devoid of chlorophyll (green) 

 grains, 3 to 8 inches high, in clusters from a bunch of fibrous 

 roots which are parasitic on the roots of other plants, or sapro- 

 phytic, growing on decaying vegetable matter. The flowers 

 at first hang down ; in fruit, stand erec;t. No odor, and a 

 rather unpleasant plant, clammy to the touch, turning black 

 after being plucked. It has been called " Life in death." 



44. Pine-sap. False Beech-drops 



M. Hypbpitys is closely related to the Indian - pipe, but 

 bears several flowers instead of 1, which hang from one side 

 of the stem, the terminal usually with its parts in fives, the 

 others with, 3 or 4 sepals and petals. Color, yellowish, pink, 

 or white. There is a pleasant fragrance about the flowers, 

 which grow on stems 10 or 12 inches high. It is likewise a 

 true parasite, as is revealed by the total absence of chloro- 

 phyll grains. It may be found during the summer months in 



