Species name :

Cynomorium coccineumL.
Published in Sp. Pl. : 970 (1753)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

-

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [WFO] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Cynomoriaceae Lindl. (The Cynomoriaceae Family)
1 species from the Cynomoriaceae family is recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

General's Root, Maltese Fungus

Maltese name(s) :

Għerq il-ġeneral, Għerq sinjur, Żobb l-Art

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare     Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Geophyte ( perennials bearing underground bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, stolons, etc. )

Legal Protection :

Protected by law: Schedule VI of [S.L. 549.44] (strictly protected species)

Red List (1989) :

Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.)

Flowering Time :

April – June

Colour of Flowers:

Red, Brown or Dark

Toxicity:

Not particularly toxic

Name Derivation :

Cynomorium: ()

coccineum: ()

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines

Remarks :

Cynomorium coccineum is a holoparasitic angiosperm plant that derives all its nutrients from the roots of a small suite of coastal–rupestral hosts, in Malta most notably or probably specifically on Atriplex lanfrancoi, although elsewhere it is reported to grow on other hosts namely Limbarda crithmoides and Crithmum maritimum. The long‑standing vernacular name “Maltese Fungus” is a substantial misnomer: the species is neither a fungus nor endemic to Malta. Its fungal‑like, leafless morphology contributed to centuries of misunderstanding, and its early association with Gozo—where it was first documented from the islet of Fungus Rock, and resulted in the misleading name in local tradition.

The species has a broad Mediterranean distribution, occurring in several countries, particularly within the dune systems of North Africa, Sicily, and Sardinia. Reports of its presence in China were later shown to refer to the closely related taxon Cynomorium coccineum subsp. songaricum (Rupr.) J. Leonard (1986), a distinct lineage widely used in traditional medicine.

Protection of the Maltese population dates back to the early eighteenth century, when the Knights of Saint John prohibited public collection of the plant. Fungus Rock itself was guarded, making it arguably one of Europe’s earliest nature reserves established specifically for a valued species. Access to the plant was restricted to high‑ranking members of the Order, and possession by the general public was punishable by imprisonment or service in the galleys. Historical accounts, including those summarised by Guido Lanfranco (1960), document both the cultural significance of the plant and the strict regulatory measures imposed to safeguard it.