Cistanche deserticola, alias Cistanche deserticola, Dayun, Chagan Gaoyao (Mongolian), is a perennial parasitic herb of Orotaceae. Location: Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and other provinces. Use whole grass as medicine. Cistanche deserticola contains about 19% of water, 7.67% of ash, 0/5.68% of alcohol-soluble extract and 40.7% of water-soluble extract. Contains mannitol, sugar, iridoid compounds, etc. The water and alcohol extracts of cistanche deserticola have been tested in anesthetized animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits, and proved to have the effect of lowering blood pressure. Extracted with distilled water, ethanol, anhydrous ethanol, ether and chloroform, respectively, to promote saliva secretion and respiratory paralysis in mice. Sweet and salty. It has the effects of tonifying kidney, strengthening yang, nourishing essence and blood, moistening intestines, relaxing bowels and strengthening bones and muscles. Treat impotence, cold pain in waist and knees, infertility, intestinal dryness and constipation.
I. Morphological characteristics
The lower part of the stem is fleshy, cylindrical or slightly flat, 40- 160 cm high, thicker at the lower part and tapering upward. The leaves are scaly, yellow-white, the lower leaves are tight, wide, short and thick, gradually sparse upward, narrow and thin, the leaves are triangular, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, and sessile. Spike is thick, terminal, cylindrical, long 15-50 cm, bisexual, with 1 bract under the flower, which is the same as the leaf, but the indumentum gradually decreases upwards, with 2 bracts, which are combined with the base of calyx and are strip-lanceolate or egg-lanceolate; Calyx bell-shaped, long 10- 15 mm, 5-lobed at the top, with nearly round lobes and sparse hair; Corolla tube is bell-shaped, 3-4 cm long and bent inward. There are two longitudinal bright yellow protrusions on the inner surface of the off-axis tube. Apex 5-lobed, lobes spreading, suborbicular. Corolla tube is yellow-white, the color of lobes is often changeable, the edge is yellow-white, lavender or lavender, and it often turns yellow-brown when it is dry. Stamens 4, 2 strong, inserted in the lower part of corolla tube 1/4, with wrinkled villous filaments at the base and arrow-shaped anthers; Ovary oval. The capsule is ovoid, brown when it is mature, and the fruit contains hundreds of seeds. The seed is ovoid or spherical, with sharp end, dark brown and luster, and the size is about1-1.2 mm× 0.7-1mm. Microscopically, it is reticulate or honeycomb (Figure16-15).
Fig.16 ——15 morphological map of cistanche deserticola.
1 .whole grass 2. Corolla part shows stamens and ovaries 3. Bracts 4. Stamens.
Second, biological characteristics.
Cistanche deserticola is a parasitic plant, and its hosts are Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon ammodendron. It usually grows in desert environment, where sandstorms are strong, the four seasons are distinct, the temperature difference between day and night is large, there is drought and little rain, evaporation is large, and sunshine hours are many, accounting for 35-40% of the total hours of the year. In this climate, most plants are not suitable for survival, but are beneficial to the growth of Haloxylon ammodendron and Cistanche deserticola.
The soil is medium fine sand, neutral or alkaline, with high salt content. The water-soluble salts in soil are high in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and silicon, but low in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter. Artificial cultivation of cistanche deserticola and Haloxylon ammodendron needs nutrient supplementation.
Cistanche deserticola was unearthed in April-May, blossomed in May-June, and the seeds matured from mid-June to early July. Phenology is related to the environment and climate of the place of origin. Mature capsules split and seeds scattered in the desert. The seeds still have vitality after three years' storage in natural conditions, and have a long life under the condition of low temperature and dryness in the refrigerator, but the vitality will decrease when stored in wet sand at 25℃. The seed life of cistanche deserticola is longer under natural conditions, which is related to its parasitism and heredity. Because it grows in the arid desert, it is a parasitic plant, so it must meet three basic conditions from a seed to cistanche deserticola: 1. It is necessary to blow sand or manually bury seeds in sand with appropriate depth. 2. It needs a certain amount of soil moisture, and there is only a small amount of water below 15-20 cm in the desert. 3. The newborn capillary root tip of the host Haloxylon ammodendron just extends to the navel of the cistanche deserticola seed, releasing some chemical activator, stimulating the cell division of the seed embryo, having parasitic relationship, and rapidly developing into cistanche deserticola. Wild cistanche deserticola seeds scattered in the desert are not easy to meet the above three conditions. In order to adapt to the natural environment, the seeds are long-lived, many, small and light (1000-grain weight is 0.086-0.09 1g), easy to be blown by the wind, with pectin in the seed coat, which can keep the water content of the seed kernel, adapt to the arid environment, have strong water absorption, and can induce the capillary roots of the host to extend to the seeds to form a parasitic relationship.
Cistanche deserticola is closely related to its host, so it can communicate with its mineral nutrients through isotope Ca45 tracer. Cistanche deserticola contains the same mineral elements as its host, including silicon, magnesium, manganese, lead, tin, nickel, iron, aluminum, molybdenum, copper, bismuth, zinc, titanium, silver, zirconium, barium, gallium, calcium, chromium, lithium, sodium, potassium, vanadium and cobalt. See table 16— 15 for other nutrients.
Table16 ——15 nutritional components of cistanche deserticola and its host.
The base of cistanche deserticola connected with the host root is enlarged and hypertrophy, and the vascular bundle of Haloxylon ammodendron root extends to the base of cistanche deserticola to transport nutrients. The water content of cistanche deserticola is above 80%, and the water content of host root is 15-20%. The osmotic pressure of cistanche deserticola cells is lower than that of the host, and the photosynthetic products of the host are continuously transported into cistanche deserticola. Just like the warehouse of cistanche deserticola, cistanche deserticola grows and develops on the basis of nutrients provided by the host.
Third, cultivation techniques.
Land selection and land preparation
Sandy soil or semi-quicksand desert area should be selected, with sufficient sunshine, less rainfall, good drainage and large temperature difference between day and night. In colder regions, other plants are not easy to grow and are suitable for Haloxylon ammodendron. In the desert areas where the natural Haloxylon ammodendron forest is concentrated, enclosure should be made to prevent cattle, sheep and camels from eating, watering and fertilizing, and protecting and strengthening the host. You can also cultivate artificial Haloxylon ammodendron forest, harvest Haloxylon ammodendron seeds after autumn, and do border sowing and seedling raising in spring. Emerge after sowing 1-3 days, sow after 1-2 years, the row spacing is about1-1.5m. After sowing for 2-3 years, it grows vigorously and can be inoculated with cistanche deserticola. Haloxylon ammodendron can also broadcast live. Pay attention to protect the seedlings from wind and rain, or cut 20 cm long strong branches in the seedbed in spring, but the survival rate of cuttings is low and labor-consuming.
(2) Breeding methods
Reproduce with seeds. Dig the seedbed in the east or southeast direction of wild Haloxylon ammodendron, about 50-80 cm away from the host. Seedbeds vary in size, with a length of 1-2m, a width of 1m or a depth of 50-80 cm, or in places with dense hosts. Dig a big seedbed ditch around many hosts, sow seeds on the seedbed, and apply camel dung and cow dung. To cover them up. The artificial Haloxylon ammodendron forest grows neatly in rows and can be ditched on both sides of the plant to make seedbeds. After sowing, keep the seedbed moist and induce the host roots to spread on the seedbed. Sowing in spring or autumn, some seedbeds parasitize cistanche deserticola in the second year, a few grow out of the soil, and most of them blossom and bear fruit within 2-4 years after sowing.
(3) Site management
In the desert, the wind is very strong and the roots of the host are often exposed by the wind. Pay attention to cultivating the soil or surrounding the host roots with branches to prevent wind, and water the seedbed frequently to keep moisture and get rid of other plants. When cistanche deserticola blooms in May, artificial pollination should be carried out to improve the seed setting rate.
(4) Pests and diseases and their control
1. Breed flies
During the flowering period when Cistanche deserticola was unearthed, larvae harmed the tender stems, drilled holes and ate the base of underground stems, which affected the plant growth and the quality of medicinal materials. The roots can be sprayed or watered with 800 times of 90% trichlorfon solution or 1000 times of 40% dimethoate EC solution.
2. Haloxylon ammodendron powdery mildew
[〔Leveillula saxaouli (Sorok. ) Golov, Fuma Haloxylon (Jacz) Golov. 〕
It occurs in July and August, forming a white powder layer on the shoots. Use B0- 10 biological preparation 300 times solution or 25% triadimefon 4000 times solution for prevention and control.
3. Haloxylon ammodendron root rot
(Fusarium oxysporum. )
It mostly occurs at seedling stage, and it is easy to get sick due to soil hardening and poor ventilation. Choose sandy soil with good drainage for planting and strengthen scarification; The root was irrigated with 50% carbendazim 1000 times solution during the occurrence period.
4.gerbils
Eat the branches and roots of Haloxylon ammodendron, and use zinc phosphide or Dalong bait to trap and kill outside the cave.
Others are thrips that harm the fruits and seeds of cistanche deserticola, and noctuid larvae that harm the host shoots.
Fourth, harvesting and processing.
From April to early May, the newly unearthed cistanche deserticola is of good quality, and it is important to collect it in large quantities and preserve it in small quantities. A small amount of cistanche deserticola was unearthed in autumn, but the quantity was small, which should be mainly in spring. Outdated flowering, hollow firewood, not suitable for medicine. Remove the inflorescence or head of the excavated cistanche deserticola to avoid consuming the nutrients at the base, and put it on a clean beach or roof to dry. After more than a month, it turned from yellow to brown, sweet and big. Can also be cut into pieces for medicine.