Cynomoriaceae

Family Description

Distribution Map

List of Genera

Cynomorium has two species, C. coccineum of northern Africa and the Mediterranean region and C. songaricum of western Asia. The latter species, known as "suo yang" in Chinese and is extensively used in herbal medicines. The genus is sometimes included within Balanophoraceae, but unlike that family it has bisexual flowers intermixed with male and female flowers within the dense inflorescence. Cynomorium has been known for thousands of years by ancient people who used it for food, medicine, and even for dyeing. Arabs call the plant "tarthuth" and Bedouins ate the interior portions of fresh young stems, prepared infusions of older stems to treat colic or stomach ulcers, or dried and pulverized the plant for use as a spice or condiment with meat dishes (see wonderful article by Robert Lebling HERE). Medicinal uses of tarthuth can be traced to Al-Kindi, Al-Razi (Rhazes), Ibn Masawayh, Ibn Wahshiya, and Maimonides but the plant became known to Europeans only in the 16th century. A group called the Knights Hospitaller of St. John operated a hospital in Jerusalem and learned of the medicinal qualities of tarthuth from local Muslim physicians. When the Crusaders lost Jerusalem to the Muslims, they moved to the island of Malta where Cynomorium was also native. The site where "Maltese Mushroom" grew (Fungus Rock) was thereafter vigorously guarded and thieves were imprisoned or made galley slaves. The "treasure of drugs," as the Arabs called it, was used for a variety of purposes, including treating apoplexy, venereal disease, high blood pressure, vomiting, irregular menstrual periods and as a contraceptive and toothpaste. In his book "The Private Life of Plants, David Attenborough implies that the medicinal qualities of Cynomorium can be attributed to the "Doctrine of Signatures," i.e. that if a plant bore a physical resemblance to a part of the human body, this plant was useful in treating a disease associated with that part. For example, because Cynomorium appears reddish-brown and darkens upon drying, it could be considered useful in treating ailments of the blood. Moreover, the phallic shape meant the plant could also be used to treat sexual problems. Evidence is now accumulating that the ancient Muslims may have been correct with regard to the medicinal qualities of tarthuth. See References (below) for modern pharmacological work aimed at determining actual biochemical activity.

Photographs

Cynomorium coccineum

Habit of plant showing inflorescences emerging from the sand. The parasite attaches to the host roots via a massive haustorial system deep underground. Cadiz, Spain. Photo of specimen no. 4063 by D. L. Nickrent.
Inflorescences. Northeastern Tunisia. Photo by Stefan Wanke spring 2006.
Close-up photograph showing female flower (left and middle) and male flower (right). Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
SEM (Scanning electron micrograph) of the pollen. Photo by D. L. Nickrent.
Tarthuth emerging from the sand. Ain Dar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 21, 2005. Photo by Stephen L. Brundage (Saudi Aramco).
View of tarthuth in its desert habitat in the Ain Dar area of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, close to the Ghawar oil field. Photo taken in March 2004 by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Young inflorescence of tarthuth just emerging from sand. Note the presence of scales intermingled with the dense, still unopended flowers. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Young inflorescence being visited by ants. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Inflorescence being visited by flies. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
A toad-headed agamid lizard (Phyrnocephalus maculatus) taking advantage of the flies attracted to tarthuth. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Mr. Quriyan M. Al-Hajri (in western dress) harvesting tarthuth (Photo1, Photo2). Mr. Al-Hajiri is supervisor of Saudi Aramco's Wellsites Inspection Unit and is also an expert on desert lore, Bedouin traditions and survival techniques. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Mr. Quriyan M. Al-Hajri (in Saudi dress) harvesting tarthuth (Photo1, Photo2). Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Tarthuth, partially excavated. The inflorescence can be quite long, with the actual haustorial connection to the host many decimeters below the soil. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).
Excavated inflorescences of tarthuth next to an intact one. Photo by Faisal I. Al-Dossary (Saudi Aramco).

Cynomorium songaricum

Suo Yang as it is sold dried and packaged as an herbal medicine for "invigorating the yang", nourishing the blood, moistening the intestines, "locking up the kidney essence" which assures male potency in old age, and many other purported remedial effects.
Typical advertisement for Suo Yang seen on many web pages, complete with misspelled Family name! Efforts must begin to conserve this plant where it is being extensively harvested from natural populations.

Phylogeny

The phylogenetic position of Cynomorium (Cynomoriaceae) has been determined, and it's with Saxifragales, not Balanophoraceae! See paper by Nickrent et al. (2005) in BMC Evolutionary Biology.

For a PDF file of this article, click HERE. For the full text online version, go HERE.

References

SIUC / College of Science /Parasitic Plant Connection / Cynomoriaceae
URL: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Cynomoriaceae/index.html
Last updated: 06-Nov-06 / dln