Family: Orobanchaceae
American cancer-root, American squawroot
Christopher Noll
Kenneth J. Sytsma
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Conopholis: Greek conos for "cone" and pholis for "a scale"
Plants: erect, perennial, 2"-8" tall, pale brown to yellowish forb; stems stout, unbranched; parasitic on the red oak group
Leaves: many, scale-like, fleshy, overlapping
Flowers: yellow to cream, 5-parted, 1/3"-1/2" long, tubular with a swollen base, facing downward, upper of the 2 lips straight, lower lip 3-lobed; inflorescence of many flowers in a dense, 1/2"-1" thick spike; blooms May-June
Habitat: dry; woods; in rich soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, perennial, 2"-8" tall, pale brown to yellowish forb; stems stout, unbranched; parasitic on the red oak group
Leaves: many, scale-like, fleshy, overlapping
Flowers: yellow to cream, 5-parted, 1/3"-1/2" long, tubular with a swollen base, facing downward, upper of the 2 lips straight, lower lip 3-lobed; inflorescence of many flowers in a dense, 1/2"-1" thick spike; blooms May-June
Habitat: dry; woods; in rich soil
Conservation Status: Native
Rich forests wherever its host, oaks (Quercus spp.) grow, including maple-oak, oak-hickory, and oak-pine.
Despite the ubiquity of its host, this species has a very local and scattered distribution, being apparently absent from large swaths of the state. It seems unlikely that the plant is overlooked, since its unusual ghostly white color and “pinecone” appearance are quite distinctive.
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 8 USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc. David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Kenneth J. Sytsma
Melissa Kanter
Kenneth J. Sytsma
Aaron Carlson
Aaron Carlson
Aaron Carlson
Robert Bierman
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
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Aaron_Carlson
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