Cynomorium coccineum subsp. songaricum (Rupr.) J. Leonard

The fleshy stems are used medicinally as a tonic, and to treat nocturnal ejaculation and impotence.

Stem subterranean, 15-50(-100) × 0.6-2(-4) cm, ± thickened at base. Leaves scalelike, ovate-deltoid, 0.5-1.5 × 0.5-1.2 cm, apex acute. Spadix clavate, 5-16 × 2-6 cm, fragrant. Male flowers 3-6 mm; perianth lobes often 4, whitish proximally, purplish red distally, oblanceolate or spatulate, 2.5-3.5 × 0.8-1.2 mm; stamen exserted from perianth; filament dark red, thickened, to 6 mm; anther dorsifixed, dark purplish, ca. 1.5 mm; nectary yellow, suborbicular, 2-3 mm, apex 4- or 5-denticulate. Female flowers: perianth lobes 5 or 6, linear-lanceolate, 1-2 mm; style purplish red, clavate, ca. 2 mm; stigma flat. Bisexual flowers rare; perianth lobes lanceolate, ca. 0.5 mm; filament minute; pistil as in female flowers. Fruit numerous, whitish, subglobose, ca. 1 mm; style persistent, yellow. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jun-Jul.

Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Mongolia; C Asia; SW Asia (Iran)].

Usually parasitic on the roots of Nitraria, Reaumuria, Salsola, and Tamarix shrubs, by lakes, bogs, streams, and rivers in deserts; 500-700 m.

Cynomorium coccineum Linnaeus subsp. songaricum (Ruprecht) J. Léonard.