ذؤنون أنبوبي

Cistanche tubulosa is a parasitic plant. Its roots are sucking foods from the roots of Atriplex shrubs and other chenopods. Its always amazing to see hte inflorescence bursting out of the dry desert soil.

Cistanche tubulosa is a parasitic plant. Its roots are sucking foods from the roots of Atriplex shrubs and other chenopods. Its always amazing to see hte inflorescence bursting out of the dry desert soil.

this is a peculiar Cistanche, it normally has yellow flowers, but this populaiton is purplish. It is parasitic on Tararix trees and Salsola shrubs.

This is a peculiar Cistanche, it normally has yellow flowers, but this population is purplish. We found it to be parasitic on Tararix trees and Salsola shrubs.

and thats the base of the plant. Bedoulin roast and eat it.

This time I have managed to capture Cistanche tubulosa in its host plant - Atriplex halimus. We were looking for it in several places, but in this dry year, we found them only in one location.

Cistanche tubulosa is a desert parsite, attacking other desert shrubs such as Atriplex. Its roots are attached to the shrub's roots. The fleshy-robust inflorescences are striking against the dry desert soil.