Cistanche

Hoffmanns. & Link
Description: 
Root parasites totally lacking chlorophyll, fleshy; stems succulent, simple, often thickened at base. Leaves reduced to fleshy scales. Inflorescence congested, spicate. Flowers simple or subsessile, bracteate, bibracteolate, rather large. Calyx gamosepalous, 4- or 5-lobed, persistent; lobes obtuse, rounded, equal or 2 posterior ones narrower. Corolla tubular below, funnel- shaped above, +/- curved or bent; limb 5-lobed, spreading, lobes broad, equal or subequal. Stamens 4, didynamous, +/- exserted, arising deep in corolla tube; anthers usually bearded. Stigma globular; style apically decurved. Ovary unilocular, ovules many; style apically decurved; stigma globular. Capsule bi-valved. Seeds many, minute.
Distribution: 
A genus of 16 species, southern Mediterranean Europe and north Africa; Ethiopia to India and northwest China; sthn trop. Afr. 1: Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) Hook.f., Mozambique.
Source: 
SSTA
Classification: 

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith