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Orobanche fasciculata - Nutt.

Common Name Cancer Root, Clustered broomrape
Family Orobanchaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Sandy soils[235], where it is parasitic on the roots of Eriogonum and Artemisia spp[43], to 3200 metres in California and north to British Columbia[71].
Range Western N. America - Indiana to Yukon and British Columbia, south to California and Arizona.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Orobanche fasciculata Cancer Root, Clustered broomrape


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Orobanche fasciculata Cancer Root, Clustered broomrape
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Orobanche fasciculata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

The entire plant is edible - raw or cooked[46, 61, 105, 161, 257]. The plant can be boiled in ashes then peeled and eaten like potatoes[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antihaemorrhoidal  Cancer  Pectoral  Poultice  Salve

The root is pectoral[257]. The chewed root has been used as a dressing on wounds and open sores[257]. An infusion of the leaves is used as a wash on sores[257]. Forms of the plant that are parasitic on sweet sage roots have been used as a treatment of cancer[257]. The dried and powdered plant is inserted in the rectum as a specific treatment for haemorrhoids[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. It requires a well-drained soil and should succeed in sun or shade. A fully parasitic plant lacking in chlorophyll, it is entirely dependant upon its host plant for obtaining nutrient[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in a pot containing a host plant. The seed is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. It might also be possible to sow the seed in situ around a host plant.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon, Saskatchewan, Alberta), United States (Alaska, Indiana, Michigan (west), Kansas (northwest), Minnesota (s. & w.), Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota (w. & c.), Illinois, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Utah), Mexico (Baja)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Orobanche ammophylaLie DangBiennial0.4 -  LMHFSNM22 
Orobanche californicaCalifornia Broomrape, Jepson's broomrapePerennial0.1 0-0  LMHFSNM21 
Orobanche cernuaNodding broomrapePerennial0.3 0-0  LMHFSNM10 
Orobanche crenataBean BroomrapeAnnual1.2 6-10 FLMHNDM022
Orobanche grayana Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Orobanche ludovicianaBroomrape, Louisiana broomrapePerennial1.5 0-0  LMHFSNM110
Orobanche minorLesser Broomrape, HellrootPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNM000
Orobanche pinorumConifer broomrapePerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNM11 
Orobanche tuberosaGround ConePerennial0.1 -  LMHFSNM11 
Orobanche unifloraOneflowered broomrapePerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM11 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Nutt.

Botanical References

4371235

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Jose Waizel-Bucay   Fri Oct 6 2006

Synonyms: Anoplanthus fasciculatus (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray : Aphyllon fasciculatum (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray : Orobanche fasciculata var. franciscana Achey : Orobanche fasciculata var. lutea (Parry) Achey : Orobanche fasciculata var. subulata Goodman : Orobanche fasciculata var. typica Achey : Thalesia fasciculata (Nutt.) Britt. : Thalesia lutea (Parry) Rydb.

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