False Beech Drops.Monotropa Hypopitys.Pine Sap.
Found growing upon the roots of pine or oak trees, from June to September.
The single and erect stalk is about 6 or 8 inches high; thick, fleshy, and smooth, or downy. It is pale at the foot, deepening to a crimson-red near the flowers.
The small and sheath-like bracts are indeterminate in shape, thin and dry. In color yellow-red, turning blackish when withered. A few only occur upon the stalk.
The small flowers are irregularly vase-shaped, and composed of 8 or 10 narrow fleshy parts with crinkled tips; they are set on short stems, in the clasp of a bract, and arranged in terminal groups of 2 to 5 in number. The color is rosy-red, with yellow tips,—flowers, bracts, and the top of the stalk following the same scheme of color.
A parasite, growing upon the roots, and, though not unpleasing in general aspect when perfectly fresh, betraying the base quality of its nature when mature, for an unwholesome mould spreads over its parts as it grows old. When first opened the flowers turn down, but become erect with age.