Squaw Root is also known as American Squaw Root, Cancer Root.
Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant. It is parasitic and has no chlorophyll or leaves.
Flowers: The flowers are irregular in shape . They are yellowish. Blooms first appear in mid spring and continue into early summer. The rather plan flowers cover the un-branching stalk overlapping like scales.
Habitat: Under hardwood trees. Usually oaks or beeches.
Range: Throughout hardwood forests of eastern North America. Rare in the Coastal Plain area.
Squaw Root is often described as looking like a pine cone and the dried, brown stalks of old plants do look very much like that. They usually grow in small clusters.
Since Squaw Root is parasitic it does not need to produce energy using chlorophyll and sunlight so it has no green color and can live in complete shade. I usually occurs in clumps under oak trees which it paraitizes. The name Squaw Root indicates that this plant was collected by Native Americans as a source of food. It is also a favorite food of bears
Reference: 2bnTheWild.com
In various parts of Appalachia it's also known as "Bear Corn".
ReplyDeleteMr. Wallace just checking out the wild flowers. I know this is my first knowledge of seeing the Bear Corn. Thank you, for sharing your passion with us. Look forward to viewing many new wild flowers. TN Orthopedics
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