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Squawroot /Bear Corn

Conopholis americana

Photo by cobalttoad
Published on Project Noah
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35.9313, -84.5755

Field Notes

Description:

Spike shaped, growing on forest floor. Apparently bloomed prior to my finding it, but there is one tiny tip still with set of bloom: third picture. Not fungus, but a plant that doesn’t make chlorophyll but lives parasitically off host tree root.

Habitat:

Forest area. Supposed to be on root of oak. None nearby. Sometimes uses beech as host, there is one of those nearby. But the tree they are surrounding is neither of those two.

Notes:

enjoyed by bears who are emerging from hibernation. Used medicinally by Native Americans. Excellent vitamin content, but reputedly not tasty

Species ID Suggestions

Squawroot

Conopholis americana

Reference Link
Dan Doucette
1

Comments (2)
cobalttoad
Thank you so much DanDoucette! I’m reading about the squawroot, sounds like the right ID. Next year I’ll have to take a look earlier in the season so I can see it “in bloom”
Dan Doucette
Pretty cool spotting, this is a parasitic plant that has already finished flowering.

Spotted for Missions

Plants of the South East, USA
Mission
Fruiting Bodies of the World
Mission
Edible and Useful Plants of the East
Mission
Brown of TN, KY, MS, & GA
Mission
Trees and Plant Identification
Photographed
PublishedMay 17, 2021

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