草苁蓉 cao cong rong

Orobanche rossica Chamisso & Schlechtendal, Linnaea 3: 132. 1828; Boschniakia glabra C. A. Meyer; O. glabra (C. A. Meyer) Hooker.

Plants 15-35 cm tall. Rootstock horizontal, cylindric. Stems usually 2 or 3, erect. Leaves 6-8(-10) X 6-8(-10) mm. Inflorescences spicate, 7-22 cm, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam.; bract glabrous abaxially, pubescent adaxially; bractlets absent. Pedicel to 2 mm, 5-8 mm in fruit. Calyx cupular, 5-7 mm, apex irregularly 3-5-toothed. Corolla dark purple-red, broadly campanulate; tube enlarged; upper lip 5-7 mm, margin pubescent; lower lip very short, 3-lobed. Filaments 5.5-6.5 mm; anthers ovoid, ca. 1.2 mm, glabrous. Ovary subglobose, 3-4 mm in diam.; placentas 2. Style 5-7 mm, glabrous; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule subglobose, 8-10 X 6-8 mm, dehiscing by 2 valves. Seeds ellipsoid-globose, 0.4-0.5 X ca. 0.2 mm; testa reticulate. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jul-Sep.

Slopes, forests, riversides; 1500-1800 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, Russia; North America (Alaska)].

Parasitic on species of Alnus Miller.

The whole plant is used medicinally for invigorating the kidneys and relaxing the bowels.