Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Herbaceous root-parasites without chlorophyll, the stems yellowish, usually clustered, covered with imbricated scales, somewhat resembling a pine cone, stems 10-25 cm tall, scales 5-8 mm wide and 10-15 mm long.

Leaves: Reduced to alternate, appressed scales.

Flowers: Perfect, irregular, sympetalous, corollas tubular, 15-20 mm long, curved, 5-lobed and 2-lipped, the upper lip arched and notched at the apex, the lower lip shorter, 3-parted and spreading, the calyx 4-5 lobed, the tube split down the lower side, stamens 4, exserted in pairs, inserted on the corolla tube, styles slender, flowers occurring in several rows, subtended by large, scaly bracts, borne in spikes 5-8 cm long and 16-25 mm thick.

Fruits: Capsule with many small seeds.

Ecology: Found from 5,000-6,000 ft (1524-1829 m); flowering May-June.

Distribution: New Mexico, Arizona; Mexico.

Notes: This plant believed to be parasitic on the roots of Quercus, Pinus, Juglans, and Cupressus. According to Kearney and Peebles, the plant resembles a cluster of slender pine cones, these reaching up to 25 cm in fruit.

Ethnobotany: There is no specific use recorded for the species, but Conopholis alpina var. mexicana was used; an infusion of the plant was used as a strengthener for weakened tuberculosis patients, and the dried plant was used to rub the ground before a race to make runners more swift footed.

Etymology: The meaning of Conopholis is unknown, while alpina means of an alpine origin or habit.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher 2011