Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
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.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom 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 , WVCanada: 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: yesAdditional resources
USDA: Find Conopholis americana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Conopholis americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Conopholis americana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2014-08-22Research By: TWC Staff