Indian pipe

noun

1. a leafless, pearly white, saprophytic plant, Monotropa uniflora, of North America and Asia, having a solitary white flower and resembling a tobacco pipe.

Indian pipe

noun

1. a white or pinkish saprophytic woodland plant, Monotropa uniflora, of the N hemisphere, with a solitary nodding flower resembling a pipe: family Monotropaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of Indian pipe¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

Sunset turned from stowing her box of Indian pipes in a safe place in the back of the car and looked at them with a half-smile.

From Salon

The translucent white stems of Indian pipe seem completely out of place in New York City’s July woodlands — icy specters in the stuffy heat of the deep forest.

From New York Times

Superficially, cancer root appears like Indian pipe, a woodland dwelling saprophyte, a plant that feeds on decomposing plant matter.

From New York Times

It had a flower shape, he said, and was pink in color, but was like wax, resembling somewhat the Indian pipe, but with more open flowers and much more beautiful.

From Project Gutenberg

See opposite page for illustration of Indian pipes.

From Project Gutenberg