America Cancer-Root-Conophilus_DSC 5262 edited

Not a great beauty, this is the rather ominously named American cancer-root (Conopholis americana), a plant of the dark woods that spends most of its life below ground parasitizing the roots of oak trees. It emerges as spikes of creamy white flowers that lack both leaves and chlorophyll as it gains all its nutrients from its host. It’s a member of the broomrape family and is native to Eastern Canada and the USA. Apparently, it doesn't harm the oak trees, and lives for only ten years, which is not long in the life of an oak.