desert christmas tree
Pholisma arenarium Nutt.
Pholisma arenarium is a parasitic flowering plant in the family Lennoaceae, native to northwestern Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. It grows in desert, chaparral, and sandy coastal dune habitats, deriving nutrients from the roots of shrubs like burrobush, Yerba Santa, California croton, rabbitbrush, and ragweeds. The plant lacks chlorophyll and has a brownish-gray or whitish appearance, with hairy, glandular leaves and lavender to purple flowers with white margins. The edible root is sometimes referred to as a 'loaf-like' structure.
Description
Pholisma arenarium is a fleshy, perennial herb with a compact cylindrical or ovate shape, reaching 20 to 30 centimeters in height. It is commonly called desert Christmas tree, scaly-stemmed sand plant, or purple sand food. The plant is heterotrophic, relying on host shrubs for nutrients, and features pointed leaves and one-centimeter-wide flowers. It was first described in 1844 by Nuttall. The species is found in sandy soils and is notable for its edible root.
Other common names
desert christmas tree
Distribution
California · Mexico Northwest
Synonyms
Pholisma paniculatumPholisma depressumLennoa arenaria
