Most of cistanche deserticola is underground. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August. Distributed in Inner Mongolia (Azuo Banner), Gansu (Changma), Xinjiang and other places.
Cistanche deserticola is a parasitic plant, which lives in the roots of Haloxylon ammodendron in the desert and absorbs nutrients and water from the host. Known as "desert ginseng", it has high medicinal value and is a precious traditional Chinese medicine in China.
Cistanche deserticola has always been regarded as a treasure of imperial palace by western countries in history, and it is also one of the most frequently used tonics in prescriptions for tonifying kidney and strengthening yang in past dynasties.
Every April, cistanche deserticola and Cynomorium songaricum enter the peak of growth, which is also the peak of illegal mining. Driven by economic interests, some illegal personnel even hesitate to obstruct law enforcement and have a direct conflict with law enforcers.
Extended data:
Cistanche deserticola likes to grow in soft sandy land with slight salinization, and generally grows in sandy land or semi-fixed sand dunes, dry old riverbed, lake basin lowlands and so on. Poor habitat conditions.
Suitable growth areas have dry climate, less rainfall, large evaporation, long sunshine hours and large temperature difference between day and night. The soil is mainly gray-brown desert soil and brown desert soil.
The host Haloxylon ammodendron is a strong xerophyte. Cistanche deserticola is mostly parasitic on its lateral roots, with a depth of 30- 100 cm. Born in the desert at an altitude of 225- 1 150m, it is parasitic on the roots of Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon ammodendron of Chenopodiaceae.