Cytinus ruber
(Fourr.) Fritsch
Cytinaceae
Cytinus canariensis Webb & Berthel.
Cytinus clusii (Nyman) Gand.
Cytinus hypocistis canariensis Webb & Berthel.
Cytinus hypocistis clusii Nyman
Cytinus hypocistis kermesinus Guss.
Cytinus hypocistis striatus Maire
Hypocistis hypocistis kermesinus (Guss.) Linding.
Hypocistis kermesina (Guss.) Kuntze
Hypocistis rubra Fourr.
Common Name:
General Information
Cytinus ruber is a fleshy, perennial plant, parasitic on the roots of Cistus species. With small, scale-like leaves that cannot photosynthesize, itt produces a compact cluster of very short, unbranched stems clothed in brilliant red scales topped with white to pink flowers; it grows around 3 - 8cm tall[
1548- Title
- Flora Iberica
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.floraiberica.es
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1548- Title
- Flora Iberica
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.floraiberica.es
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs.
Range
Mediterranean - throughout the region, but absent in Egypt, Lebanon and former Yugoslavia. Also in Macaronesia..
Habitat
Scrub, growing as a parasite on pink-flowered species of Cistus, especially Cistus albidus; at elevations from sea level to around 1,000 metres[
1548- Title
- Flora Iberica
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.floraiberica.es
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.06 m |
| Pollinators | Ants |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A parasitic plant, growing on the roots of various Cistus species, especially pink-flowered forms. It produces no chlorophyll[
89- Title
- Flowers of the Mediterranean.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Polunin. O. and Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- Hogarth Press
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- 0-7012-0784-1
- Description
- A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.
].
The abundance of this species in the field is closely linked to spring rains, so that in dry years it practically does not flower while in rainy years it is abundant and easy to see[
1581- Title
- Inventario Espanol de los Conocimientos Tradicionales relativos a la Biodiversidad. Segunda Fase
- Publication
-
- Author
- Editors: Manuel Pardo de Santayana et al
- Website
- http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es/
- Publisher
- Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 978-84-491-1472-4
- Description
- An excellent guide to the traditional uses of plants in Spain. Produced in three volumes, it is available for download as a PDF from the Internet
].
Edible Uses
The flowers contain a sweet, edible nectar[
1548- Title
- Flora Iberica
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.floraiberica.es
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs.
].. The inflorescences are commonly used as sweets, especially by children and by shepherds who collect them while taking care of the animals. The flowers are collected when they are 'grenades' (sic) and the base of each flower is swollen, filled with a pasty liquid. The complete inflorescences are harvested and the flowers are removed one by one, squeezing them so that the sugary liquid that is sucked as a candy comes out of its base. The liquid is said to have a pleasant bitter and sweet taste, and after eating them, if you drink a sip of water, it seems to you the sweetest and best water in the world[
1581- Title
- Inventario Espanol de los Conocimientos Tradicionales relativos a la Biodiversidad. Segunda Fase
- Publication
-
- Author
- Editors: Manuel Pardo de Santayana et al
- Website
- http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es/
- Publisher
- Ministerio de Agricultura; Madrid
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
- 978-84-491-1472-4
- Description
- An excellent guide to the traditional uses of plants in Spain. Produced in three volumes, it is available for download as a PDF from the Internet
].
Medicinal
The plant has been used as an astringent and emmenagogue[
1548- Title
- Flora Iberica
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.floraiberica.es
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
