American cancer-root
NameAmerican cancer-root
Species NameConopholis americana
Common NameAmerican cancer-root
Bonsai Styleforest
Estimated Age (years)1
Container Typenatural ground
Geographic Originnorth-america
Cultivation Difficultyexpert
Trunk Featuresfleshy stalks, scale-like leaves, no true trunk
Foliage Typescale-like bracts
Height (cm)12
Nebari (Root Flare) Qualitynot applicable to this plant type
Is Floweringtrue
Notable FeaturesHoloparasitic plant lacking chlorophyll, distinctive cone-like flowering stalks, found in association with oak roots. This plant is not typically cultivated as a bonsai due to its parasitic nature.
Description
This specimen displays a cluster of yellowish-brown, scale-covered stalks emerging from the leaf litter of a forest floor. As a parasitic plant, it lacks chlorophyll and relies on host tree roots for nutrients. The visible stalks are the flowering structures of this unique woodland plant.
