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Photographer: Clifford Orsted
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Family Orobanchaceae
Epifagus virginiana (L.) W.P.C.Barton
beech-drops, cancer-root
Epifagus: ancient Greek name of Helleborus
virginiana: of Virginia
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, annual, 4"-20" tall forb; stems with many branches, pale brown with thin purple lines; parasitic on beech tree roots |
| Flower: | whitish often with 2 brown stripes, 1/3" long; 2 different types of flowers: the lower cup-like, ribbed, 5-lobed; the upper somewhat larger, tubular, 4 -lobed; inflorescence a loose, often-branched, tall cluster (panicle) of flowers from the leaf axils; blooms Aug.-Oct. |
| Leaf: | scattered, alternate, scale-like |
| Habitat: | moderate moisture; woods |
| (Glossary) |
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 W.P.C.Barton&phog=Damon A. Smith&spcode=EPIVIR)
