This Southeastern endemic is listed as endangered in the state of South Carolina. Being only a couple of inches high and usually hiding under the forest's leaf litter, it is almost impossible to see.

The way to successfully locate this plant is by smell. It has a sweet, clove-like fragrance that gives it away from a considerable distance. Upon sensing the fragrance, you should get down on all fours and sniff and remove leaf litter until the plant is uncovered.

I suppose a dog could be trained to find them, but it's a lot more fun (interesting to passers-by, anyway), and is rewarding when a group of these plants is finally located.

Tags:   Monotropsis odorata Pigmy Pipes Sweet Pine Sap Devil's Fork State Park South Carolina rare plants flowers endangered species Pygmy Pipes

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This Southeastern endemic is listed as endangered in the state of South Carolina. Being only a couple of inches high and usually hiding under the forest's leaf litter, it is almost impossible to see.

The way to successfully locate this plant is by smell. It has a sweet, clove-like fragrance that gives it away from a considerable distance. Upon sensing the fragrance, you should get down on all fours and sniff and remove leaf litter until the plant is uncovered.

I suppose a dog could be trained to find them, but it's a lot more fun (interesting to passers-by, anyway), and is rewarding when a group of these plants is finally located.

Tags:   Monotropsis odorata Pigmy Pipes Sweet Pine Sap Devil's Fork State Park South Carolina rare plants flowers endangered species Pygmy Pipes

© All Rights Reserved

The color of the flowers of Pygmy Pipes varies from a deep magenta to a bluish purple - even in the same group. The tip of the petals will always be a lighter color - usually white.

Each flower is covered with a tan sheath. This sheath is the color of the surrounding leaf litter which makes the plants very difficult to spot.

Tags:   Devils Fork State Park Oconee County South Carolina Monotropsis odorata Sweet Pine Sap clove fragrance flower Olympus E-510 Sigma 105mm Pygmy Pipes

© All Rights Reserved

The color of the flowers of Pygmy Pipes varies from a deep magenta to a bluish purple - even in the same group. The tip of the petals will always be a lighter color - usually white.

Each flower is covered with a tan sheath. This sheath is the color of the surrounding leaf litter which makes the plants very difficult to spot.

Tags:   Devils Fork State Park Oconee County South Carolina Monotropsis odorata Sweet Pine Sap clove fragrance flower Olympus E-510 Sigma 105mm Olympus 2X teleconverter Pygmy Pipes

© All Rights Reserved

The color of the flowers of Pygmy Pipes varies from a deep magenta to a bluish purple - even in the same group. The tip of the petals will always be a lighter color - usually white.

Each flower is covered with a tan sheath. This sheath is the color of the surrounding leaf litter which makes the plants very difficult to spot.

Tags:   Devils Fork State Park Oconee County South Carolina Monotropsis odorata Sweet Pine Sap clove fragrance flower Olympus E-510 Sigma 105mm Olympus 2X teleconverter Pygmy Pipes

© All Rights Reserved