Cistanche tubulosa

Cistanche tubulosa is a holoparasitic desert plant species in the genus "Cistanche". The plant lacks chlorophyll and obtains nutrients and water from the host plants whose roots it parasitizes.
Uses.
The plant is grown in the Taklamakan Desert, and is traditionally used for medicines and foods in China.
The main sources of the Chinese herbal medicine cistanche (Chinese: 肉苁蓉, pinyin ròucongróng) are "Cistanche salsa" and "Cistanche deserticola", although it may also be obtained from "C. tubulosa". The drug, known in Chinese as "suosuo dayun", is collected in spring before sprouting, by slicing the stems of the plant.