A revision of the genus Cistanche (Orobanchaceae) in Israel, and considerations for its taxonomic circumscription in the Middle East Author Ben-Natan, Dar Deshe open landscape institute, Steinhardt Museum of natural history, Tel-Aviv University, Klausner St. 12, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel Author Thorogood, Chris 0000-0002-2822-0182 University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, Oxford, OX 1 4 AZ, UK & Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX 1 3 RB, UK text PhytoKeys 2025 2025-08-01 260 213 236 journal article 311425 10.3897/phytokeys.260.158426 454da4fa-9cba-45de-8110-9cb447d724da Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) Wight ex Hook. f. ≡ Phelypaea tubulosa Schenk , Sp. Pl. Aegypt . 23–24 ( October 1840 ) [basionym]. Description. A holoparasitic (achlorophyllous), glabrous herb, with a stout stem, swollen at the base. Plant robust, 30–130 cm , stem dirty-white or grey, 15–40 mm in diameter. Lower scales dense, constricted, entire, triangular, yellowish-white, grey or dark grey, 5–10 × 5–10 mm . Middle and upper scales and floral bracts triangular-lanceolate, entire, scarious and variably, often markedly serrate along the margins, dirty-white to grey, 7–15 × 15–30 mm . Inflorescence a dense, many-flowered spike, 20–100 cm long, 4–15 cm in diameter. Floral bracts about as long as calyx or somewhat longer. Floral bracteoles 2, linear or lanceolate, obtuse, 2–6 × 10–20 mm , white to grey, scarious and serrate along the margin, attached to the calyx base and equal or slightly shorter than calyx. Calyx tubular-campanulate, dirty-white to grey, 10–22 mm . Calyx lobes 5, equal or subequal with one slightly shorter lobe, oblong-rounded, entire, scarious and serrate at the margin. The upper lobe shorter than the rest by up to 3 mm . Corolla infundibuliform, pentamerous, 35–45 mm . Corolla tube bright yellow, with two shallow, yellow folds inside. Corolla tube arched beneath the middle. Inner tube more or less short-pubescent around the filament bases and glabrous elsewhere. Limb usually bright yellow, sometimes slightly tinged crimson (especially conspicuous in bud), 15–30 mm in diameter. Corolla lobes 5, rounded, equal or the upper ones slightly smaller than the other 3, usually wider than long. Stamens 4, inserted at the base of the tube, included. Filaments 20–25 mm , densely pubescent at the base and weakly, very short-pubescent or glabrous above. Anthers 3 × 5 mm , densely lanuginose, rounded-elliptic to apiculate. Ovary ovate, 4–5 × 10–12 mm , white or yellowish-white with a yellow ring at base, dark brown when dry. Capsules ovoid-globose, 12–20 × 15–20 mm , dehiscent with 2 (- 3–4) valves. Fl. January-April. Habitat and prevalence. Wadis in the desert. Along the Rift Valley from the southern Jordan River to Eilat, in the eastern and southern Judean desert, and the central and southern Negev desert. Fairly common in its habitat. Host . Mostly Tamarix ssp. from T. nilotica (Erenb.) Bunge. group and Atriplex halimus L. Probably other desert shrubs, especially in the Amaranthaceae . Notes. see C. tinctoria . C. tubulosa can be found in mixed populations with either C. laxiflora or C. violacea , and there is evidence of hybridization with the latter. Specimens examined. Israel • (Palestine), Lower Jordan Valley , plain of Jerico , 27. May. 1905 . Dinsmore J. E. ( HUJ 123660 !) ; Israel • Judean desert , Wadi ‘ Ghar , 26. March. 1929 . Gabrielith R. ( HUJ 123662 !) ; Israel • southern Negev , Wadi ‘ Ideid (Nahal ‘ Arod), between Khiar ‘ Ideid (Be’erot ‘ Oded) and Gebel ‘ Oreif (Har ‘ Arif) , 21. April. 1946 . Zohary D. ( HUJ 123669 !) ; Israel • Arava Valley , Ein Hosb (En-Hatzeva) , 9. April. 1950 . Near spring, on roots of Tamarix maris-mortui Gutmann, Zohary D. ( HUJ 123664 !) ; Israel • Arava Valley , 82 km N of Eilat , Wadi bed , 13. March. 1951 . Orshan G. & Zohary D. ( HUJ 123666 !) ; Israel • Env. of Dead Sea , env. of Masada , 7. March. 1954 . D’Angelis Y. ( HUJ 123626 !) ; Israel • Env. of south Dead Sea , 23. March. 1954 . Zohary M. ( HUJ 123627 !) Israel • Dead Sea area , En-Gedi , Nahal David , 18. March. 1961 . Fuchs S. ( HUJ 123625 !) ; Israel • central Negev , Ein Avdat , 8. April. 1968 . Prusbul L. ( HUJ 123668 !) ; Israel • (Palestine), 15 km S of Jericho , on edge of Dead Sea , 13. February. 1987 . Musselman L. Y. ( HUJ 123623 !, HUJ 123624 !) ; Israel • (Palestine), Samaria , Far’a Valley , Nahal Tirtsa, SE of Adam junction , 26. February. 2001 . Ur Y. ( HUJ 123630 !) ; Israel • Negev desert , Makhtesh Ramon , Ein-Saharonim , coor. 30°36'00.6"N , 34°56'17.0"E , 300 m , Wet, somewhat saline sandy banks of a small freshwater stream , 14 April 2020 . Dar Ben-Natan ( HUJ 1005812 !) . Israel • N. Arava Valley , Lower Ein Gidron , N. of Hatzeva , sand and grit, near flowing water , coor. 30°47'45.7"N , 35°16'34.3"E , 190 m , 25. May. 2022 . parasitic on T. nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge. Dar Ben-Natan ( HUJ 1000047 !) ; Israel • Arava Valley , north of Tzofar , western side of road 90, Nahal Shivya , coor 30°34'00.5"N , 35°11'16.3"E , 50 m , parasitic on Atriplex halimus L., containing fruiting capsules dehiscent by 3 and 4 valves 7. May. 2021 . Dar Ben-Natan ( TELA 2796 !) ; Israel • Judean Desert , Side of Arad to Dead Sea road , coor 31°10'39.5"N , 35°17'47.5"E , 150 m , parasitic on Atriplex halimus L., containing fruiting capsules dehiscent by 4 valves 7. May. 2021 . Dar Ben-Natan ( TELA 2797 !) ; Israel • Judean Desert , Side of Arad to Dead Sea road , Nahal Zahav , coor 31°10'23.3"N , 35°18'40.7"E , 110 m , parasitic on Atriplex halimus L., containing fruiting capsules dehiscent by 4 valves 7. May. 2021 . Dar Ben-Natan ( HUJ 134826 !) ; Israel • Judean desert , Lower Nahal Og , containing capsules dehiscent by 3–4 valves, 1. Oct. 2022 , Dar Ben-Natan ( HUJ 1005811 !) ;