Conopholis alpina

Common Names

Alpine Cancer-Root, Alpine Squawroot, Mexican Cancer-Root, Ground Cone

Summary

Alpine cancer-root is a holoparasitic perennial in the Orobanchaceae that lacks leaves and chlorophyll and relies entirely on host roots for nourishment. Stems are stout and creamy-yellow to light brown, rising 4–10 inches from leaf litter to form dense, pine-cone-like spikes; tubular, two-lipped flowers with a 15–20 mm corolla are arranged in several rows and subtended by large bracts. It parasitizes roots of oaks and other hardwoods, occurs in oak and pine woodlands at about 5,000–6,000 ft, and typically flowers in May–June, with native distribution across New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, northern Mexico, and parts of Central America.

Propagation occurs by seeds that must locate a suitable host, with natural conditions preferred and no direct fertilization; host health indirectly benefits the plant. Cultivation and ecology favor moderate light, subtropical climates, moderate temperatures, and high humidity, with loamy soil that is evenly moist and well-drained and rich in organic matter to support the host. It is fully parasitic and non-photosynthetic; ethnobotany notes include use of var. mexicana as an infusion for weakened tuberculosis patients and rubbing dried plant before a race to improve speed.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-10 inches

Spread

8 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-6

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade, tolerates partial sun.

Soil Type

Loamy soil, sandy and gravelly soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.5-6.5

Bloom Color

Yellow to yellowish (pale yellow)

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

No foliage

Fall Foliage Color

Yellowish-cream to Yellowish-white with brown highlights

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bears, coyotes, deer, squirrels, and livestock, no evidence for bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, or birds as pollinators