Monotropa hypopitys
Pinesap
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Monotropa hypopitys (Pinesap) is a native California herb in the Ericaceae family.
Pinesap is a California native perennial found in northwestern California (excluding northern Coast Ranges interior) in mixed and conifer forests at elevations of 120 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces pale cream to yellowish flowers with distinctive sepals that differ from its petals. Growing as a parasitic plant with waxy, fleshy stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it lacks chlorophyll and emerges directly from forest floor organic matter. Its flowers have a short style approximately 1 to 2 millimeters wide, giving the plant a delicate and translucent appearance. This uncommon woodland species grows as a mycoheterotroph, deriving nutrients through symbiotic relationships with fungal networks in coniferous forest ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differentiators are style width and sepal appearance relative to petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Mixed or conifer forest
Elevation: 120-2200 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Lake, Humboldt, Mendocino, Glenn, Trinity, Del Norte
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern United States and adjacent Canada, also Mexico, Eurasia
Bloom period
Monotropa hypopitys blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Sarcodes: Monotropa nods when young and is whitish; Sarcodes stands upright and is bright red.; vs Pterospora: Monotropa is short with nodding flowers; Pterospora is very tall with upright flowers.; vs Allotropa: Monotropa lacks stripes and nods when young; Allotropa has candy-cane stripes and stands upright.; vs Pleuricospora: Monotropa has separate petals; Pleuricospora has fused tubular petals.; vs Pityopus: Monotropa has separate smooth petals; Pityopus has fused petals hairy on the inside.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monotropa hypopitys native to California?
Yes. Monotropa hypopitys is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Monotropa hypopitys bloom?
Monotropa hypopitys blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Monotropa hypopitys grow?
Monotropa hypopitys occurs in Siskiyou, Lake, Humboldt, Mendocino, Glenn, Trinity, Del Norte, at elevations of 120-2200 m.
What plant family does Monotropa hypopitys belong to?
Monotropa hypopitys is in the Ericaceae family, genus Monotropa.
What habitat does Monotropa hypopitys grow in?
Monotropa hypopitys grows in Uncommon. Mixed or conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.