Family:
Orobanchaceae Vent.

Cistanche Hoffmanns. & Link

This genus is accepted, and its native range is Macaronesia to Ethiopia and Xinjiang.

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Fleshy herbs
Morphology Leaves
Scale-like leaves many
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers many in terminal spike; bracts present, scale-like; bracteoles usually 2
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular with (4–)5 obtuse lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla tubular with almost regular funnel-shaped limb, 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens included or almost so
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1-celled with 4 placentas; stigma ± orbicular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ovoid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds subglobose, minute.
Distribution
Some 23 species, from the Cape Verde Is. in the west through the Mediterranean region to India and China in the east.

[FTEA]

Orobanchaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1957

Morphology General Habit
Whole plant fleshy, glabrous to hairy
Morphology Stem
Stem simple, rather swollen basally
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a handsome spike of congested, ± sessile flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts scale-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles 2
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, 5-lobed (rarely 4; the dorsal lobe absent or very reduced); lobes rounded, equal or the dorsal ones rather narrower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla large, yellow, purple, mauve, pink, white or a mixture of these, tubular, broadened above the ovary into a funnel-shaped limb, curving outwards; lobes equal or subequal, sometimes revolute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens attached low in the corolla tube; anthers glabrous to densely lanate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Style terminally decurved; stigma orbicular or obscurely so.

[FZ]

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit
Root parasites totally lacking chlorophyll, fleshy.
Morphology Stem
Stems succulent, simple, of ten thickened at base.
Morphology Leaves Scale leaves
Leaves reduced to fleshy scales.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence congested, spicate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers simple or subsessile, bracteate, bibracteolate, rather large.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, 4- or 5-lobed, persistent; lobes obtuse, rounded, equal or two posterior narrower.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla tubular below, funnel-shaped above, more or less curved or bent; limb 5-lobed, spreading, lobes broad, equal or subequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, didynamous, more or less exserted, inserted deep in corolla tube; anthers usually bearded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Stigma globular; style apically decurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary unilocular, ovules many.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule bi-valved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, minute.

Native to:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, Cyprus, Djibouti, East European Russia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gulf States, India, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, North Caucasus, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Qinghai, Saudi Arabia, Selvagens, Senegal, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, South European Russi, Spain, Sudan, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Western Sahara, Xinjiang, Yemen

Introduced into:

France

Cistanche Hoffmanns. & Link appears in other Kew resources:

First published in Fl. Portug. 1: 318 (1806)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.

Literature

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • —F.T.A. 4, 2: 463.

Flora Zambesiaca

  • Fl. Port. 1: 318 (1809).

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, (2000) Author: by M. Thulin [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Fl. Port. 1: 318 (1809)

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    Flora of Somalia
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    Flora of Tropical East Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0