Native Plants

Plant Database

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Cressler, Alan

Conopholis americana

Conopholis americana (L.) Wallr.

American cancer-root, Squawroot

Orobanchaceae (Broom-Rape Family)

Synonym(s): Orobanche americana

USDA Symbol: COAM

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A parasitic plant with yellowish to cream-colored flowers emerging among lanceolate or ovate, pointed, yellow-tan scales on upper part of a fleshy stalk.

This plant resembles a pinecone as it becomes dry and brown with age. A parasite, it gets its nourishment from the roots of oaks, its host trees. A closely related species, Alpine Squawroot (C. alpina), occurs from the southwestern United States down to Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NS
Native Distribution: Manitoba east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Mississippi, and north to Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Native Habitat: Woods, under oaks.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Additional resources

USDA: Find Conopholis americana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Conopholis americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Conopholis americana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2014-08-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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