Caralluma flava

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A succulent herb. It is angular and without leaves. It forms clumps 30 cm tall and 50 cm across. The stems are pale green and can have a reddish tinge. The stems are 4 angled and 1.5-2 cm across. The flowers are at the tip of the shoots and there can be 15-30 flowers in a group. They are yellow. The fruit are follicles in pairs. These are 10-11 cm long by 0.5 cm wide.

There are about 56-100 Caralluma species. These are sometimes put in the Asclepiadaceae. It can inhibit some cancer cells.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Middle East, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

How it is used for food

The young stems are eaten fresh. They are mildly bitter.

Edible parts

Stems, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dhaba, Dhagohom, Uruz

Synonyms

Crenulluma flava (N. E. Br.) Plowes; Desmidorchis flavus (N. E. Br.) Meve & Liede;