Cancer Corn Conopholis americana

Cancer-root is an herbaceous perennial parasitic plant in the boomrape (Orobanchaceae) family.  There is no evidence to prove that it can cure cancer. The genus name Conopholis comes from Latin for 'cone' and 'scale' and refers to the appearance of the stems with scale-like flowers that resemble upright golden cones.

It grows in large areas of Eastern America on organically rich forest soils.  It needs well-drained soils but grows in a wide variety of light conditions.  This plant does not photosynthesize, hence its lack of the green pigment chlorophyll, and it grows only where oak trees (Quercus spp.) are present. 

It typically grows from 2 to 8 inches tall and is less than an inch wide.  Inflorescences that look like the cones from a conifer break through the surface of the soil when the plants are approximately four years old after they have been growing underground attached to oak roots.  The inflorescence can appear anywhere from April-July depending on where you are on the east coast.  After flowering, the spikes turn brown and wither eventually turning black and persisting into winter.