PALE PINESAP 



Hy-pofitys americana (De Candolle) Small 



Pale pinesap is a woodland plant, preferring moist situations. It 

 blooms in late summer. The succulent stems are provided with scales 

 in place of leaves, and the whole plant is devoid of green coloration. 

 It is not a parasite like ghostpipe, but is saprophytic, that is, it obtains 

 its nourishment from decomposing vegetable matter, after the fashion 

 of the mushrooms. In aspect it is similar to its close relative, the red 

 pinesap, but lacks the bright coloring of that species. It belongs to the 

 Indian Pipe Family, degenerate relatives of the heaths. 



One or more species of pinesap occur in woods from Florida to 

 Newfoundland and Ontario. A very similar plant is found in Europe, 

 but the relationships of the several species have not been finally deter- 

 mined. 



The specimen sketched was found near Washington, District of 

 Columbia. 



PLATE 157 



