English: American cancer-root; Squawroot; Bear corn.
Region: North America.
Habitat: on roots, in wooded ravines.
Genus: 2 species.
Taxonomy: related to Orobanche.
Botany: perennial, achlorophyllous, parasitic, on oak and beech, causing large rounded knobs on the roots; inflorescence cone-shaped, yellowish to brown, ± 15 cm tall, appears above ground in spring; stems stout, unbranched, ± 2 cm thick; leaves absent, instead simple, ovate, tiny scales, brown; flowers densely in spikes, yellow to cream, 5-parted, ± 1 cm long, tubular, swollen base, facing downwards, turning brown and black and shriveled in winter; fruit a seed capsule, with many small seeds.