Cistanche

I was delighted to see lots of Cistanche phelypaea near Erfud oasis. Its the first time I saw it on date palms and not on chenopod shrubs.

Its rare t ofind two rather rare species growing side by side. This happened today, when we went to see the local-rare endemic Iris mariae in the western Negev Desert, we found Ciostanche salsa a rather rare parasytic plant.

and now this parasite alone (see previous pic). Cistanche salsa is a rather rare species in the deserts of Israel. It is found in saline edges (hence its scientific name), but also in other habitats, such as these sands.

This desert parasite is relatively rare (the yellow C. tubulosa is commoner, look at my previous pics). I always thought that this species occurs is salty locations, but found it this time is a sandy area near Nizzana on the Israel-Egypt border. Its robust inflorescences are in complete contrast to this arid place.

Every time I see this flower, I'm amazed. It is a desert parasite that grows near chenopods shrublets, from which it gets nutrients. The young inflorescences miraculously break the desert dry soil and emerge.

We found clumps of Cistanche salsa just emerging form the ground, in an area that got rains some days ago.

This is one of the desert parasytic plants, living on roots of other shrubs, in salty and very dry soils. I found these of the main road on the western part of the Dead Sea, in the lowest place on earth, altitude -400 m.

This is a beautiful parasite attacking desert shrubs in salty soils. Sometimes it pops up away from its host.

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.