Caralluma quadrangula
(Forssk.) N. E. Brown
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Ali Mohammed Alzahrani, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Ali Mohammed Alzahrani, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
gbif · cc-by-sa
GBIF
GBIF
gbif · cc-by-sa
GBIF
GBIF
What to Eat
Edible parts: Plant, Stem, Flowers Pods
The stems, flowers, and pods are eaten, though large amounts should be avoided.
Where to Find It
It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in higher and more arid areas.
Middle East, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen,
How to Identify
A succulent herb. It forms clumps 50 cm tall and 50 cm wide. The stems are erect, 4 angled and 1-3 cm across. They are branched. The angles have rounded teeth. The flowers are 1.25 cm across and in groups of 1-3 at the tips of the shoots. The fruit are follicles in pairs and are 8-10 cm long by 0.8 cm wide.
Medicinal Uses
It has anti-diabetic activity.
Notes
There are about 56-100 Caralluma species. These are sometimes put in the Asclepiadaceae. It has anti-diabetic activity.
Names & Synonyms
Boucerosia forskalii Decne. [Illegitimate]Boucerosia quadrangula (Forssk.) Decne.Desmidorchis forsskalii Decne. [Illegitimate]Desmidorchis quadrangula (Forssk.) KuntzeEchidnopsis quadrangula (Forssk.) Deflers
References (2)
- Marwah, R. G., et al, 2006, Antioxidant capacity of some edible and wound healing plants in Oman. Journal of Food Chemistry.
- Miller, A. G., Morris, M. & Stuart-Smith, S., 1988, Plants of Dhofar. The Southern Region of Oman, Traditional, Economic and Medicinal Uses. Sultanate of Oman. p 54
