One-Flowered Cancer-Root

One-Flowered Cancer-Root (Aphyllon uniflorum) is in the broomrape family family (Orobanchaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,265 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph One-Flowered Cancer-Root: observations by month (U.S.)

About One-Flowered Cancer-Root

Orobanche uniflora, commonly known as one-flowered broomrape, one-flowered cancer root, ghost pipe or naked broomrape, is an annual parasitic herbaceous plant. The "broom" might refer to the plant's shape while "rape" might refer to the lumps that are on its roots. It is native to much of North America, where it is a parasitic plant, tapping nutrients from many other species of plants, including those in the families Asteraceae and Saxifragaceae and in the genus Sedum....From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

One-Flowered Cancer-Root by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (broomrape family)

Warrior's PlumePedicularis densiflora

Canadian lousewortPedicularis canadensis

Purple Owl's-CloverCastilleja exserta

Mediterranean lineseedBellardia trixago

American cancer-rootConopholis americana

Felt PaintbrushCastilleja foliolosa

Texas PaintbrushCastilleja indivisa

Narrowleaf Cow WheatMelampyrum lineare

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ