Desert Christmas tree
Pholisma arenarium
Family: Boraginaceae
What it is like
A fleshy herb. It grows 20-30 cm tall. It grows attached to shrubs by its roots.
There are 3 Pholisma species. It has also been put in the family Lennoaceae.
Where it is found
They grow in tropical and subtropical America. They grow in arid or seasonally dry climates. It grows as a parasite on the roots of shrubby Asteraceae and some Crotons.
Countries/locations it is found in
Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The stems are eaten raw of roasted or baked.
Edible parts
Roots, stems
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Purple sand food, Scaly-stemmed plant, Tuu-bi, Tuumbi