Monotropa hypopitys

Monotropa hypopitys, the so-called Dutchman's pipe, false beech-drops, pinesap, or yellow bird's-nest, is a herbaceous perennial plant, formerly classified in the families Monotropaceae or Pyrolaceae, but now included within the subfamily Monotropoideae of the family Ericaceae.

[2] Unlike most plants, it does not contain chlorophyll; it is a myco-heterotroph, getting its food through parasitism upon fungi rather than photosynthesis.

Plants flower from April to December depending on the geographic region (May to October in North America).

[6] The species name is from Latinized Greek hypo-, "under", and pitys, "pine", referring to where pinesap often grows.

In California, Monotropa hypopitys may be confused for the much less common Pityopus or Hemitomes which are superficially similar.

The pink to cream flower, with four to five petals, is borne on a short stalk
Monotropa hypopitys with bee