Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.) Beck

Herbs 10-45 cm tall. Stems unbranched, rarely 2-or 3-branched. Leaves ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 0.6-1.6 cm X 5-8 mm. Inflorescences 8-20 cm; bract ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 1-1.5(-2) cm, margin densely yellow-white villous, sparsely pubescent abaxially; bractlets oblong-lanceo-late, subequalling calyx. Calyx pale yellow or white, campanulate, ca. 1/3 as long as corolla; lobes 5, ovate or subrounded, 2.5-3 X 3-3.5 mm. Corolla tubular-campanulate, 2.5-4 cm; tube white or yellow-white; lobes 5, pale purple or purple, subrounded, 5-7 X 5-7 mm. Filaments 1.2-1.4 cm; anthers long ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm, base mucronate, along with filament base densely white villous. Ovary ovoid. Style 1.6-2 cm, glabrous, persistent; stigma subglobose. Capsule ovoid or oblong, 1-1.4 cm X 8-9 mm. Seeds subglobose, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jun-Sep.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the deserts of north-western China. It can grow in arid places. In north China it grows on slopes between 700-2,700 m above sea level.

Slices of the dried fleshy stems are cooked with meat and vegetables.

Can be grown by seedlings.