Unless you own a dune buggy and zip over the sand dunes around Yuma, or the Algodones Dunes in southeastern California or Sonora, Mexico, you have never seen a plant called Sand Food. It is considered an endangered plant and is quite rare. To date, no plants have been successfully propagated in research labs.
There are two species of Sand Food: Pholisma sonorae has a round mushroom shaped flowering head, while Pholisma arenaium has an oval-shaped flowering head. In spring, the flower head emerges from the sand, and tiny lavender flowers cover it. The flowers produce seeds that are dispersed throughout the area by shifting sand, harvester ants, and rodents that burrow beneath host plants. Once flowering is over, the Sand Food disappears underground until next spring.
Sand Food has no chlorophyll and relies upon its host plant for nutrients. It is semi-parasitic and survives by attaching a six foot, or longer, root to another sand dune plant and living off the host plant. Tiny scales cover the Sand Food and absorb any moisture available underground or from dew in spring.
Sand Food is a perennial herb that is a member of the borage family. Indigenous people once dug up and used its stems and roots as food.
For most of us, photos of this interesting plant are as close as we will get to seeing one.
By Karen Bowen
Karen is a member of Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society and is a master gardener. She is the Pacific Region butterfly chairman.
Photo 1 Botany.org
Sand Food, Pholisma sonorae, has a mushroom shaped flower head.
Photo 2 Mitchell Sterling
Sand Food, Pholisma arenaium, has an oval shaped flower head.
Photo 3 Calphotos.Berkley.edu
Sand Food, Pholisma sonorae, is found in the Algodones sand dunes near Yuma, southeastern California and in Mexico.
Photo 4 W. P. Armstrong
The Sand Food’s six-foot long root attaches to a host plant, and it receives nutrients from the host plant. It can absorb moisture found underground or from dew in spring.
