strange mushroom

[Jimmypop]

Can anyone identify plant,fungi, or whatever. Thanks.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Not a mushroom. That's squaw root /bear corn (Conopholis americana. ) It's a parasitic plant that grows on oak roots.

 

[Jimmypop]

thanks, does it have any use except to occupy space?

 

[NCHillbilly]

It's supposedly edible?! It's got quite a few medicinal uses-it has been used to stop bleeding and hemorrhaging, To treat bronchitis, and it seems to act kind of like Estrogen for treating menopausal symptoms in women. Bears eat it when they come out of hibernation in the spring, I've heard that it's supposedly to break up the plug of grass and sticks that they eat before going to sleep to shut their bowels down.

 

[Russdaddy]

Not sure I'd wanna try it if it'll blow grass and sticks out the poop chute of a bear!