What can you tell me about parasitic plant, Boschniakia strobilacea? - Ask Extension
I saw on your site that this cone-like plant feeds off the roots of our local manzanita and madrones. How does this affect the overall health of the ...
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What can you tell me about parasitic plant, Boschniakia strobilacea? #891547
Asked January 14, 2025, 1:23 AM EST
I saw on your site that this cone-like plant feeds off the roots of our local manzanita and madrones. How does this affect the overall health of the plant that it's parasitically attached to? And do any animals eat this plant, or can humans? Or is it poisonous? Does it have any know uses such as a plant-based fabric dye, natural pesticide, etc?
Josephine County Oregon
Expert Response
Boschniakia strobilacea is a perennial herb (parasitic) that is
native to California, and Southern Oregon and found elsewhere in western North America. Groundcones are in the same family (Orobanchaceae) as the wildflower, Indian paintbrush. Both plants are parasitic, meaning they take nutrients from a host plant.
Green plants use chlorophyll to create their own food from sunlight and water through photosynthesis. California groundcone doesn’t perform photosynthesis. Instead, it uses haustoria – specialized roots to attach to and take nutrients from the roots of Pacific madrone trees (Arbutus menziesii) and manzanita shrubs (Arctostaphylos spp.). Although it is a holoparasite, meaning that it is fully dependent on its host for survival, there is currently no scientific evidence that it is harmful to its hosts.
California groundcone grows in open mixed conifer woodlands and chaparral where madrone trees and manzanita shrubs are present. It often grow beside or on trails. Its range scattered and extends from central and southern Oregon to Baja California (Mexico). It can grow at sea level to nearly 1830 m (6000 ft) elevation, depending on latitude. Roots of madrones and manzanitas can spread far from their main trunks or stems, so California groundcone may grow where its host is not apparently present. The part of the groundcone plant that we see above ground is called an inflorescence. It can be 7 to 18 cm (2–7 in) long, is cone or cylinder-shaped, and is surrounded by bracts or scales that resemble the scales of a cone from a fir or pine tree. Purplish-red flowers stick out from between the bracts. The flowers become small round fruits bearing tiny seeds (about 2
mm). Currently, very little is known about which animals pollinate groundcone flowers, eat its parts, or help spread its seeds. California groundcone blooms May through July in most of the parks in the Klamath Network. Dried inflorescences can remain on the forest floor long after their flowers have wilted, browning and aging beside their fir cone twins.
native to California, and Southern Oregon and found elsewhere in western North America. Groundcones are in the same family (Orobanchaceae) as the wildflower, Indian paintbrush. Both plants are parasitic, meaning they take nutrients from a host plant.
Green plants use chlorophyll to create their own food from sunlight and water through photosynthesis. California groundcone doesn’t perform photosynthesis. Instead, it uses haustoria – specialized roots to attach to and take nutrients from the roots of Pacific madrone trees (Arbutus menziesii) and manzanita shrubs (Arctostaphylos spp.). Although it is a holoparasite, meaning that it is fully dependent on its host for survival, there is currently no scientific evidence that it is harmful to its hosts.
California groundcone grows in open mixed conifer woodlands and chaparral where madrone trees and manzanita shrubs are present. It often grow beside or on trails. Its range scattered and extends from central and southern Oregon to Baja California (Mexico). It can grow at sea level to nearly 1830 m (6000 ft) elevation, depending on latitude. Roots of madrones and manzanitas can spread far from their main trunks or stems, so California groundcone may grow where its host is not apparently present. The part of the groundcone plant that we see above ground is called an inflorescence. It can be 7 to 18 cm (2–7 in) long, is cone or cylinder-shaped, and is surrounded by bracts or scales that resemble the scales of a cone from a fir or pine tree. Purplish-red flowers stick out from between the bracts. The flowers become small round fruits bearing tiny seeds (about 2
mm). Currently, very little is known about which animals pollinate groundcone flowers, eat its parts, or help spread its seeds. California groundcone blooms May through July in most of the parks in the Klamath Network. Dried inflorescences can remain on the forest floor long after their flowers have wilted, browning and aging beside their fir cone twins.
