Jopo de cordero

Description:

Parasite on the roots of a range of plants, especially Chenopodiaceae species.

Habitat:

The Tabernas Desert (AKA The Badlands) a harsh environment that receives around 18cm of rain/year, has a high salinity and is populated by halophytes. The classic Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns were shot here (see photo 3)

Notes:

In parts of Northern Africa, these have been used as an alternative to Asparagus, and an aphrodisiac. These thrusting flower spikes really are as powerful as they appear - in some places they were breaking through the tarmac at the verge of the road!