Rare and peculiar, "sand food" is the name given to a flower species that resembles miniature edible treats with tiny purple blooms adorning their surface.
Scientific Description
Known scientifically as Pholisma sonorae, these desert-dwelling beauties belong to the family of flowering plants native to North American deserts.
Physical Characteristics
Pholisma sonorae exhibits long, deep-reaching roots, extending up to 6 feet underground in search of water and nutrients. Its above-ground portion resembles a flattened sphere or mushroom shape, depending on the strength of desert winds.
Blooming Season
During early spring, the round crown of this rare flower sprouts tiny blossoms measuring about 0.4 to 0.8 inches in diameter, featuring a captivating blend of purple and white.
Symbiotic Relationship
As a parasitic plant, Pholisma sonorae lacks chlorophyll and relies on other desert plants for sustenance. Its sturdy roots latch onto host plant roots, absorbing nutrients without depleting them. Interestingly, even when Pholisma sonorae grows larger than its host, the latter remains unharmed.
Reproduction
Juvenile Pholisma sonorae search for suitable host roots by sending out "prospector roots." Once a compatible host is found, the prospector roots develop haustoria, specialized structures that connect and absorb nutrients the host plant synthesizes through photosynthesis.
Seed Dispersal
The species propagates through wind-dispersed seeds. Constant desert winds carry these seeds, planting them in the soil or attaching them to burrowing rodents.
Conservation Status
Due to habitat loss, Pholisma sonorae is classified as a threatened plant, with its range limited to specific locations in southeastern California, near Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico.