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Bear Corn is a perennial, parasitic, flowering plant that grows from Maine to Michigan and south to Tennessee and Florida. The genus name, Conopholis, meaning “cone-scale,” is derived from Greek: “conos” for cone, and “pholos” for scale. It blooms from May into June. Being parasitic, it obtains all of its nutrition from other plants, and lacks the chlorophyll that gives nonparasitic plants their green color and their ability to synthesize their own food from inorganic substances.
Description
The stem of Bear Corn is thick and brown, 4 to 6 inches tall. It is covered with brown scales that are not true leaves. More than half the height of the plant consists of the dense inflorescence, which is sometimes compared to a pine cone in overall appearance (Voss and Reznicek, 2012). The stem arises from a thick underground tubercle which forms short roots with haustoria that invade the roots of host tissue. A large woody gall forms where the parasite’s root attaches to the oak root. The flowers, which are located on the thick stem, are pale yellow and less than a half-inch long.
Where To Find
Bear Corn’s habitat is rich woodlands having oaks and beeches.
Relationships
Bear Corn is most commonly parasitic on the roots of oak species, and to a lesser extent on beech roots. The flowers may be pollinated by bee and fly species, but some flowers may be self-pollinated. When in fruit, the plant, with its many capsules, resembles an ear of corn. Each capsule contains many small seeds. The capsules, which mature while still sticky, attract animals such as Black Bears (when they are coming out of hibernation in spring), and White-tailed Deer, which eat and disperse the fruits and seeds (Illinois Wildflowers, Lobstein, 2020).
Seasonality Snapshot
Source: Wikipedia
| Conopholis americana | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Conopholis |
| Species: | C. americana
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| Binomial name | |
| Conopholis americana | |
| |
| Range of Conopholis americana | |
| Synonyms | |
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Orobanche americana L.[2] | |
Conopholis americana, the American cancer-root, bumeh or bear corn, is a perennial,[3] non-photosynthesizing (or "achlorophyllous") parasitic plant. It is from the family Orobanchaceae and more recently from the genus Conopholis but also listed as Orobanche, native but not endemic to North America. When blooming, it resembles a pine cone or cob of corn growing from the roots of mostly oak and beech trees.[4][5]
Description
[edit]Conopholis americana is parasitic on the roots of woody plants, especially oaks (genus Quercus) and beech (genus Fagus).[3] The only part of the plant generally seen is the cone-shaped inflorescence,[5] which appears above ground in spring.[6] The entire structure is a yellowish color, turning to brown.[3] It achieves heights of 10 centimeters (4 in) to 20 centimeters (8 in) tall.[7]
Stems and leaves
[edit]The plant has stout and unbranched 1.3 centimeters (0.5 in) to 2.5 centimeters (1 in) thick stems.[8] Since C. americana does not photosynthesize[5] it also does not have true leaves; it has instead simple, ovate, tiny scales[3] 1.3 centimeters (0.5 in) long and brown, which appear at the base of each flower.[7]
Flowers
[edit]Conopholis americana produces spikes of yellow to cream flowers densely crowded all around the stem.[7] Each flower is 5-parted, 8 millimeters (0.3 in) to 13 millimeters (0.5 in) long, tubular with a swollen base and facing downwards.[8] As the flowering spike matures it begins to wither and becomes brown throughout the summer and often persisting through the winter, by which time it has become shriveled and black. There is no noticeable floral scent.[7]
Fruits and reproduction
[edit]Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule that is longer than it is wide and contains many small seeds. This plant spreads to new locations by reseeding itself.[7]
Roots
[edit]The root system is parasitic on the roots of oak trees (Quercus spp.); dependent on the host tree for its nourishment, the suckers of the parasitic roots cause the formation of large rounded knobs on the roots of the host tree.[7]
Distribution
[edit]The plant is found growing on roots in wooded ravines[3] in every state of the United States east of the Mississippi River.[1] While widely distributed, it is uncommon.
Native:
- Nearctic:
- Northern America:
- Eastern Canada: Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec
- Northeastern U.S.A.: Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
- North-Central U.S.A.: Illinois, Wisconsin
- Southeastern U.S.A.: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia[2]
- Northern America:
It is considered an exploitably vulnerable species in New York, a threatened species in New Hampshire and a special concern in Rhode Island.[1]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "PLANTS Profile, Conopholis americana". The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ a b "Conopholis americana". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ a b c d e David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes. "ILPIN INFORMATION ON Conopholis americana". ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ Grafton, Emily. "Beech Drops" (PDF). PNPS Notes Quarter #4. 8. Pennsylvania Native Plant Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b c C. Vandaveer (2005-06-27). "Plant of the Week". Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ^ "Squawroot Conopholis americana". Connecticut Wildflowers. Connecticut Botanical Society. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ a b c d e f Hilty, John. "Cancer Root (Conopholis americana)". Illinois Wildflowers.
- ^ a b University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. "Conopholis americana (L.) Wallr". Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
External links
[edit]
Data related to Conopholis americana at Wikispecies
Media related to Conopholis americana at Wikimedia Commons- "Conopholis americana". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
