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TrekNature DwCA
This desert parasite is relatively rare (the yellow C. tubulosa is commoner, look at my previous pics). I always thought that this species occurs is salty locations, but found it this time is a sandy area near Nizzana on the Israel-Egypt border. Its robust inflorescences are in complete contrast to this arid place.
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TrekNature DwCA
Its rare t ofind two rather rare species growing side by side. This happened today, when we went to see the local-rare endemic Iris mariae in the western Negev Desert, we found Ciostanche salsa a rather rare parasytic plant.
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TrekNature DwCA
and now this parasite alone (see previous pic). Cistanche salsa is a rather rare species in the deserts of Israel. It is found in saline edges (hence its scientific name), but also in other habitats, such as these sands.
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TrekNature DwCA
Every time I see this flower, I'm amazed. It is a desert parasite that grows near chenopods shrublets, from which it gets nutrients. The young inflorescences miraculously break the desert dry soil and emerge.
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TrekNature DwCA
This is one of the desert parasytic plants, living on roots of other shrubs, in salty and very dry soils. I found these of the main road on the western part of the Dead Sea, in the lowest place on earth, altitude -400 m.