Monotropsis odorata
Monotropsis odorata, commonly known as Appalachian pigmy pipes, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Monotropsis, part of heath family.
Description
Appalachian pigmy pipes is a small herbaceous plant with an above ground portion consisting entirely of inflorescences that grow to just in height. The inflorescence is a raceme, a group of flowers attached to a stem without branches, with flowers nods when emerging from the soil, begin to face upwards when blooming, and become fully upright when fruiting. Its stem is maroon to dark-purple in color and is covered in 14 to 66 bracts. It bracts are lavender colored when fresh and paper-like and tan when mature.Their flowers are noticeably fragrant and this is used by observers to locate the plants. The odor can be reminiscent of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, or violets.