Desert hyacinth

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cistanche tubulosa var. albiflora
• Lathraea quinquefida
• Orobanche calotropidis
• Orobanche insignis
• Phelypaea tubulosa
• Cistanche tubulosa subsp. palustris
• Phelypaea calotropidis
• Phelypaea insignis
• Cistanche tubulosa f. albiflora
• Cistanche tubulosa var. tomentosa
• Cistanche calotropidis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Orobanchaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Cistanche, with its species designation being tubulosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent and its surrounding islands. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented in both Egypt and Libya. The species also extends into the Macaronesian archipelago, specifically found in Cape Verde. Moving toward the mainland, it can be located within West Tropical Africa in Mali. Finally, its range reaches the island of Socotra in Northeast Tropical Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cistanche tubulosa is characterized by its specialized parasitic lifestyle, as it relies entirely on host plants within the genus Tamarix L. for its nutritional requirements. This species is primarily found inhabiting river and lake valleys, where the presence of its host species is most abundant. Its environmental preference is strictly tied to specific edaphic conditions, specifically thriving in sandy and pebbly soils that provide the necessary substrate for its development.

Habitat :

Parasitic on species of Tamarix L. Mainly in river and lake valleys in sandy and pebbly soil

Life history

The life history of Cistanche tubulosa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a specialized parasite, its developmental strategy is defined by its life form, which is categorized both as a geophyte and a cryptophyte. This indicates that its vital organs and regenerative structures are located underground, protected from seasonal environmental extremes, which facilitates its long-term survival and ability to emerge periodically to complete its reproductive cycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cistanche tubulosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically existing as a terrestrial plant that lacks chlorophyll due to its nature as an obligatory parasite. This herb is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, vine, or liana, and it does not exhibit epiphytic tendencies, remaining strictly terrestrial. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m. Its structure is entirely non-woody, maintaining a soft, herbaceous consistency throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

obligatory

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cistanche tubulosa is characterized by a specific flowering window and the production of extremely fine seeds. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in April, though the timing can be variable across different cycles. The plant produces seeds with a highly uniform mass, as both the mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass are recorded at $7 \times 10^{-5}$ g, indicating a very consistent and minute seed size essential for its dispersal and survival.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass mean:

7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cistanche tubulosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu

Chemicals

Cistanche tubulosa has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Echinacoside, Acteoside, Verbascoside, betaine, mannitol.

Echinacoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Nature communications
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Acteoside

1. Nature communications
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Polymers

Verbascoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

betaine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatography. A

mannitol

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

sucrose

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

6-Deoxycatalpol

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

8-epi-Loganic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

COPPER

1. Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu

Activities

Cistanche tubulosa has 8 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiaging, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifatigue, Antiinflammatory.

Antiaging

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antibacterial

1. Computers in biology and medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antifatigue

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimicrobial

1. RSC advances

Antioxidant

1. RSC advances

Aphrodisiac

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Conditions

Cistanche tubulosa has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, E. coli, anti-allergic, antidiabetic, antineoplastic.

Candida albicans

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

E. coli

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Anti-allergic

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antidiabetic

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antineoplastic

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Antioxidant

1. RSC advances

Antiparasitic

1. RSC advances

Aphrodisiac

1. Archiv der Pharmazie

Cognitive function

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Impotence

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Preparations

Cistanche tubulosa has 14 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 0.1 mg x L(-1) fluridone, 200-500 grams of Cistanche tubulosa, Cistanche tubulosa extract, ECH-enriched extract, aqueous extract.

0.1 mg x l(-1) fluridone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

200-500 grams of cistanche tubulosa

1. Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu

Cistanche tubulosa extract

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Ech-enriched extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Aqueous extract

1. RSC advances

Decoction pieces

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Echinacoside-enriched extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal plant extracts

1. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology

Powder

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology