The Cistanchis is a parasitic plant that lives on the roots of the desert tree, the pike, and draws nutrients and water from the pike's host. It is known as "Desert Ginseng" and has high medicinal value, and is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine.

April every year, Cistanchis and Cistanches enter the peak growth period, and it is also the peak period for the illegal elements to dig and poach, driven by economic interests, some offenders even go so far as to obstruct law enforcement, and clash with law enforcers in a positive manner.

Fleshy stem, long cylindrical or lower slightly flattened, slightly curved, 3-375px long, the lower part of the thicker, 5-375px in diameter; upward tapering, 2-375px in diameter. gray-brown or brown surface, densely imbricated with a tile-like arrangement of fleshy scales, scales rhombic or triangular, about 5px thick, 0.5-37.5px wide, and can be seen scales fall off after leaving the Leaf traces are crescent-shaped.

The texture is hard, not easy to break. The cross section is brown, with talks of brown punctate vascular bundles, y undulate or serrated annular. Xylem about 4/5, sometimes hollow. Surface and section in the bright light can be seen in the crystal-like small bright spots. Traditionally, it is considered to be best when it is plump and fleshy, blackish brown, oily and soft.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Cistanche