Family: monotropes (Monotropaceae)
Flowering time: July–August
Size: 10–25 cm
Habitat: coniferous and mixed, less often deciduous forests
Hairy monotrope (Monotropa hypopitys) is a plant without chlorophyll. It does not need it, because it lives off fungi – mycotrophic. The whole plant is pale to brownish-yellow in color. Its fleshy, upright stem is leafy with alternately arranged scale-like leaves. At the top of the stem develops a nodding, densely clustered inflorescence. This usually consists of 8 to 15 bell-shaped flowers. For the hairy monotrope it is characteristic that the inner surfaces of the corolla lobes, the filaments of the stamens, and the neck of the pistil are covered with stiff hairs, which is clearly visible under a magnifying glass.
Its fruit is an erect, oval head. Hairy monotrope grows on humus-rich forest soils throughout Slovenia.
