Difference between revisions of "Salsola vermiculata"

Revision as of 20:02, 24 September 2019

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Subshrubs, 20–70(–100) cm, densely brownish pubescent (especially when young) with smooth and minutely denticulate (barbellate or branched) hairs, sometimes becoming glabrous at maturity. Stems erect, branched at woody base; branches erect or ascending, virgate. Leaves alternate, bearing several reduced, ca. 1–4 mm leaves in their axils; blade lanceolate, 5–8 × 0.5–1 mm, fleshy, expanding into ovate base (gibbous), apex obtuse, usually pubescent. Inflorescences not interrupted, primary axis sometimes paniculately branched, 1-flowered (rarely 2–3-flowered); bracts alternate, not imbricate, not reflexed, base gibbous, apex obtuse, usually densely pubescent. Flowers: bracteoles distinct, free, perianth segments winged at maturity, apex conic, sparsely pubescent above wings (especially apically) sometimes becoming glabrous; fruiting perianth (including wings) 7–10(–12) mm diam. 2n =18.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, clay soils, disturbed places
Elevation: ca. 1000 m

Calif., Eurasia (Mediterranean region and arid regions of sw Asia), n Africa.

Discussion

Salsola vermiculata is a locally persistent, escaped weed. It was reported naturalized near an abandoned experimental plot in San Luis Obispo County (possibly also in Kern County), where it was previously tested as a potential forage plant introduced from Syria in 1969. Salsola vermiculata sensu lato is designated as a federal noxious weed by the United States Department of Agriculture (R. G. Westbrooks 1993). It is so far the only perennial species of Salsola introduced to North America. Together with related Eurasian and African taxa, it should probably be segregated into a separate genus, Caroxylon Thunberg (N. N. Tzvelev 1993).

Salsola vermiculata sensu lato is a taxonomically complicated and morphologically polymorphic complex. North American material most probably belongs to S. damascena Botschantzev (V. P. Botschantzev 1975, 1975b). It fits the protologue and the type specimen deposited at LE, but additional study and comparison with other Eurasian “microspecies” are necessary. Some of these taxa remain little known and poorly understood taxonomically.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa