Monotropa hypopitys, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 5

1. M. hypopitys L. , Sp. Pl. 387 (1753)

( Hypopitys monotropa Crantz ).

Whole plant creamy-white to yellow, sometimes slightly tinged with brown or pink. Stem 5-25 cm. Cauline scales 5-13 mm, ovate-oblong, entire to fimbriate. Sepals obovate-spathulate. Petals 6-13 mm, oblong to oblong-spathulate, erect, usually recurved at apex. Stamens shorter than petals. Capsule subglobose. 2n = 16, 48. Damp woods, especially of conifers or Fagus. Most of Europe, but ran in the extreme south. All except AzCrFaIsSaSbTu.

Some plants are wholly glabrous; others are pubescent, especially in the inflorescence. The glabrous plants have been distinguished as var. glabra Roth , or as a separate species, M. hypophegea Wallr. , Sched. Crit. 191 (1822), which is said to be further distinguished by its short petals not recurved at the apex, its shorter capsule, and its occurrence mainly in Fb^ws-woods. Recent work, however, suggests that there is little correlation between pubescence on the one hand and other morphological features, habitat or chromosome-number on the other.