Monotropsis odorata

Monotropsis odorata

Monotropsis odorata is a species of the family Ericaceae ( Ericaceae ) and the only species of its genus.

Description

Monotropsis odorata is a chlorophyll -less, myco - heterotrophic herbaceous plant. Their roots are coral- shaped, the burgeoning of them shoot and inflorescence axis is nodding and purple to violet. The leaves are simple, bracteoles absent.

The inflorescence is mehrblütig. The flowers are five, rarely four to sechszählig, sepals are present and distinguishable on the basis of texture. The crown is approximately tubular, the petals are fused together at the base and weak saccular. The stamens are about three-fifths as long as the crown, the pores of the anthers are turned outward, the nectaries are notched. The stylus is constantly expanding the scar.

The ovary has largely parietal placentation. The fruit is berry-like, the seeds are ovoid and thick-skinned.

The seeds are linear, thin-walled and have elongated cells. The chromosome number is n = 13

Dissemination

The species is found in the southeastern United States at altitudes 600-1350 m.

System

Species and genus were first described in 1817 by Louis David von Schweinitz.

Evidence

• P. F. Stevens et al. Ericaceae. In: Klaus Kubitzki (ed.): The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants - Volume VI - Flowering Plants - Dicotyledons - Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. 2004, ISBN 978-3-540-06512-8, pp. 167-168.