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Cynomorium coccineum

Common names

Abushal, Desert Thumb, tarthouth

Extract from Wikipedia article

Cynomorium coccineum is a parasitic perennial flowering plant in the Cynomoriaceae, a family consisting of only one (or perhaps two) species in the genus Cynomorium. Its wider relationships are uncertain. Common names include the misleading Maltese fungus or Maltese mushroom; also desert thumb, red thumb, tarthuth (Bedouin) and suo yang (Chinese). A rare or local species, it grows in dry, rocky or sandy soils, often in salt marshes or other saline habitats close to the coast. It has had a wide variety of uses in European, Arabic and Chinese herbal medicine.

AI-generated Description

Cynomorium coccineum, also known as desert thumb or maltese mushroom, is a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of desert plants. In Qatar, it has been found to thrive in arid environments, particularly in areas with limestone soils. Studies have shown that Cynomorium coccineum is adapted to the harsh conditions of the Qatari desert, with a unique ability to obtain nutrients from its host plants. The plant's red to purple inflorescences are a distinctive feature, and its presence in Qatar has been documented in various regions, including the desert landscapes surrounding Doha.

Dried parasitic plant Cynomorium coccineum (desert, or red thumb, tarthuth) in dunes of Jazirat Umm Tays, barrier island at northern tip of Qatar, east from Ruwais, March 24, 2012
LinkDried parasitic plant Cynomorium coccineum (desert, or red thumb, tarthuth) in dunes of Jazirat Umm Tays, barrier island at northern tip of Qatar, east from Ruwais, March 24, 2012
Location on mapsAl Sadd St, Doha, Qatar
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar
Flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
LinkFlowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Cluster of flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
LinkCluster of flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Close up of a flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
LinkClose up of a flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) taken from a beach near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) taken from a beach near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, February 21, 2014
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar
Parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
LinkParasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
LinkFlowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, March 3, 2014
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Blooming Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkBlooming Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Young flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkYoung flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Emerging flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkEmerging flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Flower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) with red scales on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkFlower of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) with red scales on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Club-shaped inflorescense of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkClub-shaped inflorescense of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Minute scarlet flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkMinute scarlet flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) with a host plant Zygophyllum qatarense on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkParasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) with a host plant Zygophyllum qatarense on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Salt tolerant parasitic plants of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkSalt tolerant parasitic plants of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Dark-red inflorescence of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkDark-red inflorescence of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Emerging dark-red inflorescence of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkEmerging dark-red inflorescence of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Fleshy flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkFleshy flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar
Dark-red flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on fleshy, unbranched stems on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkDark-red flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on fleshy, unbranched stems on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Emerging dark-red flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkEmerging dark-red flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Parasitic plants of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) forming "fairy ring" circle near a host plant Zygophyllum qatarense on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkParasitic plants of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) forming "fairy ring" circle near a host plant Zygophyllum qatarense on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Dissected fleshy inflorescence of a parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) taken from a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
LinkDissected fleshy inflorescence of a parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) taken from a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 10, 2015
Club-shaped flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
LinkClub-shaped flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Club-shaped flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
LinkClub-shaped flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a sand mound in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) on a sand mound in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) emerging from sand in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) emerging from sand in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Habitat of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
LinkHabitat of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum, local name tartouth) in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2015
Location on maps56, Umm Bab, Qatar
Flowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) near a rocky ridge in Jabal Al Jassasiya site, on north-eastern coast. Qatar, February 21, 2015
LinkFlowers of Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) near a rocky ridge in Jabal Al Jassasiya site, on north-eastern coast. Qatar, February 21, 2015
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar
Partially decomposed fruits of a parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) in sands of Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra. Southern Qatar, October 23, 2015
LinkPartially decomposed fruits of a parasitic plant Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) in sands of Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra. Southern Qatar, October 23, 2015
Location on mapsBu Samra Rd, Qatar
Desert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) on a beach a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2016
LinkDesert Thumb (Cynomorium coccineum) on a beach a beach in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) Water Well near Umm Bab. South-western Qatar, January 30, 2016
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar

AI-generated summary of observations

The plant Cynomorium coccineum, also known as Desert Thumb, was observed in various locations in Qatar. Most observations were made in the area of Al Hamala (Al Hamlah) water well near Umm Bab in south-western Qatar, where the plant was found growing on beaches and sand mounds. Observations were recorded from January to October, with the majority in January and February. The plant was also spotted in Jabal Al Jassasiya site on the north-eastern coast and in Maszhabiya (Al Mashabiya) Reserve near Abu Samra in southern Qatar. The observations noted the plant's distinctive club-shaped flowers, fleshy stems, and ability to form "fairy ring" circles around host plants. Some observations also recorded decomposed fruits of the plant. Overall, the observations provide a record of the plant's distribution and characteristics in Qatar.

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.