Saw a lot of these while hiking today.

I thought at first they were lupines but no. Where on the planet did you see them?

They sure are pretty but I don't have a clue as to what the identity is. I live in central Florida and I've never seen a plant that resembles the one in your photo. It would help to narrow it down if you can you give a general idea of the area where you saw that beauty.

Looks like some type of Orobanche.
http://garden.org/plants/searc...

https://www.google.com/search?...

These are from the mountains of western NC.

I think Lin might be onto somthing here...

Orobanche in USDA Plants brings up a few. Maybe Squawroot (Conopholis americana)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/na...

eclayne said:Orobanche in USDA Plants brings up a few. Maybe Squawroot (Conopholis americana)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/na...

That looks like it.


https://www.google.com/search?...

Jay & Evan, good eye ... that sure looks like the plant in question and it's a N.C. native:

http://www.ncwildflower.org/pl...
http://uswildflowers.com/detai...

Thanks everyone! It looks like squawroot.

I concur, sqawrooot indeed!
Truly a rare plant!

If I'm not mistaken they are parasites on the roots of ancient oaks!
You can walk many a mile in eastern hardwoods and never see one, they're sneaky and just not very common

Oh boy, my apologies Jay. It was you I meant to say was onto the correct lead.

Zencat said:Oh boy, my apologies Jay. It was you I meant to say was onto the correct lead.

Not a problem.

Oh yes, Squaw Root! I saw this one a couple of years ago here in the Ramapo mountains, took me a while to figure out what it was. It is beautiful!!