Chondrilla

(gum succory), a genus of perennial or, less commonly, biennial herbs of the family Compositae. The stems often branch from the base and are more or less pubescent, especially in the lower part. The root system is usually massive. There are about 30 species, distributed in temperate regions of Eurasia. More than 20 species are found in the USSR, mainly in sandy areas in the steppe, semidesert, and, to a lesser extent, desert regions of Middle Asia. Many species form calluses on their roots and on the subterranean part of their stems; the calluses contain rubber, but they have no commercial significance.