Conopholis alpina

Conopholis alpina, known as the alpine cancer-root, is an achlorophyllous (lacking chlorophyll), root parasitic plant (holoparasite).

Conopholis alpina
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Spermatophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Conopholis
Species:	C. alpina
Binomial name
Conopholis alpina Liebm.
Synonyms
List Conopholis americana Conopholis mexicana Conopholis sylvatica Myzorrhiza xanthochroa Orobanche xanthochroa

It is native to Northern Mexico, and to the Southwestern United States in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.

Taxonomy

Conopholis alpina was scientifically described and named in 1847 by Frederik Liebmann. It is classified in the genus Conopholis as part of the family Orobanchaceae. It has no accepted varieties, but has one in its seven heterotypic synonyms.

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank
Conopholis alpina var. mexicana (A.Gray ex S.Watson) R.R.Haynes	1971	variety
Conopholis americana Endl.	1839	species
Conopholis mexicana A.Gray ex S.Watson	1882	species
Conopholis sylvatica Liebm.	1847	species
Myzorrhiza xanthochroa (A.Nelson & Cockerell) Rydb.	1909	species
Orobanche multiflora var. xanthochroa (A.Nelson & Cockerell) Munz	1930	variety
Orobanche xanthochroa A.Nelson & Cockerell	1904	species

References

Sources

Web sources

• NatureServe (1 November 2025). "Conopholis alpina". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
• NRCS (4 December 2025), "Conopholis alpina", PLANTS Database, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• POWO (2025). "Conopholis alpina Liebm". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 December 2025.