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Looks Like Fungus, But Its Not Gallery

Scale Insect - These insects live under a dome to protect themselves.  Often they look like a fungus.

"Fungus Flower" - These plants look like fungus but actually have flowers tucked into their scaly stalk.  In fact, they are parasitic and are referred to as "fungus flowers".  They grow from the roots of other plants.  Botanists call them mycotrophic meaning "fungus nutrition".

? Common Name **zx 4** Scientific Name

This is probably a scale insect.  White fuzz balls on nodes only of a young Net-leaf Sugar Hackberry.  The clusters are about 3/8" wide.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2005

Orobanchaceae - Broomrape family

Mexican Cancer Root (Mexican Squawroot) Conopholis mexicana (C. alpina var. mexicana)

Plant is about 1" wide when emerging from the soil and widens as it "opens up".  Grows to about 12" tall.  The first photo shows plants emerging from the soil.  The second shows flowers.

Photos taken by Mike Carrington in the Davis Mountains of Jeff Davis County, Texas,  April 2005

(Native of Texas)

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