First Observation of Northern Groundcone (Boschniakia rossica)

Observation by Elena Phillips:

Never seen this plant before.

Gino Graziano, Invasive Plants Coordinaor with the UAF Cooperative Extension, writes:

This looks like northern groundcone (Boschniakia rossica) which is a parasitic plant that grows in wet areas. It's a native species and is not invasive.

Comments from LEO Editors:

The northern goundcone (Boschniakia rossica) is considered to be parasitic because it does not contain chlorophyll, and must utilize the nutrients of surrounding trees and shrubs to survive. It can be found in vegetated patches, growing near the base of alders (Alnus). In iNautralist, there are documented observations of this plant growing in the Interior, Southcentral, and Southeast parts of Alaska, however none have been made as far west as Crooked Creek. According to the Native American Ethnobotany database, parts of the northern groundcone are edible. Source: Central Yukon Species Inventory Project (CYSIP), Native American Ethnobotany. Erica Lujan