Desert cherry
Nitraria tangutorum
Family: Nitrariaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It tends to lie along the ground and be spreading. It grows 1-2 m tall. Young branches are white and the branches tend to arch over. They are spiny at the tip. The leaves are in groups of 2 or 3. The leaves are broadly sword shaped and 1.8-3 cm long by 6-8 mm wide. The base is wedge shaped. The flowers are dark red.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It tends to grow in sandy area around lakes. It occurs in semi-desert sandy areas around lakes. It occurs between 1,900-3,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Central Asia, China
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit