Hypopitys monotropa Crantz. is a member of the Ericaceae family. Its common names include Dutchman’s pipe, false beech-drops, pinesap, or yellow bird’s-nest. Its natural range is circumboreal and is found throughout North America. The plants do not contain chlorophyll and is caled a myco-heterotroph because it gets its food through parasitism upon fungi rather than photosynthesis.
You can see Hypopitys monotropa in handful of locations on the refuge.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_hypopitys
- Weakley, Alan S.; Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States; Working Draft of 21 May 2015