Monotropsis

Herbs, achlorophyllous, heterotrophic. Stems absent. Leaves absent. Inflorescences racemes, arched at emergence from soil, becoming erect in fruit, axis fleshy but not fibrous, usually not persistent after seed dispersal, violet to purple, 0.1-0.4 cm diam. proximal to proximalmost flower. Pedicels nodding at anthesis, erect but not elongating in fruit; bracteoles usually present. Flowers radially symmetric, nodding; sepals 5, distinct, lanceolate-ovate; petals 5, connate, purplish to violet, without basal tubercles, (surfaces ± glabrous), corolla campanulate; intrastaminal nectary disc present; stamens 10, included; filaments uniformly slender, glabrous; anthers ovoid, without awns, without tubules, dehiscent by 2 oval slits; pistil 5-carpellate; ovary 1-locular; placentation intruded-parietal; style straight, slender; stigma capitate, angular, without subtending ring of hairs. Fruits baccate, erect, (fleshy), indehiscent, (axis fleshy). Seeds 25-200, ovoid, not winged.

Cor gamopetalous, cupulate, 5-cleft; sep 5, erect; stamens 10; filaments slender, glabrous; anthers fitting under the stigma, subglobose, unappendaged, each pollen-sac opening by a long slit on one side; ovary glabrous, with deeply intruded parietal placentas; style short; stigma capitate; fr a berry; purple or brownish-purple plants, the simple stems beset with numerous ovate, scarious, crowded and overlapping scale- lvs; raceme at first nodding, erect at anthesis. Monospecific.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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