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Salsola tragus

L. (1756)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Salsola

Russian thistle, tumbleweed

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems 3–10 dm long, intricately many-branched, forming a round, bushy clump, with age breaking off and becoming a tumbleweed, glabrous or sometimes sparsely hirsute.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades narrow, linear, terete (cylindrical) when fresh, somewhat flattened when dry, 3–5 cm long, upper leaves usually only 0.5–0.8 cm long. Apex spine–tipped. Margins entire. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences1-flowered (rarely 2–3-flowered with lateral flowers mostly abortive); bracts alternate at maturity, ± abruptly narrowing into mucronulate-spinose apex. Flowers small, bisexual (perfect), each one subtended by 2 small bracteoles. Calyx (4)5-lobed, with enlarged membranous wings in fruit, 3–6 mm wide when well-developed, those of lowermost flowers often merely carinate. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens usually 5; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2–3(–5)-carpellate, 1-celled, placentation basal; ovule 1; styles 2(3); stigmas 2(3), dry.

Fruit: Utricles flattened; enclosed by the calyx. Seeds 1 per fruit; horizontal; orbicular; black; shiny; 1.5–2 mm in diameter.

Ploidy: 2n = 36

Habitat: Along roadsides and in other disturbed areas.

Elevation Range: 36–1682 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Cent. Pl. II: 13 (1756)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:540 (H [as Salsola kali]); Wagner et al. 1997:55 (Misapplied: S. kali = S. tragus); Herbst & Wagner 1999:19 (Ka); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:5 (EM); Herbst et al. 2004:5 (O); Starr et al. 2006:34 (Mo); Starr & Starr 2012:88 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Salsola tragus L. On former sugarcane fields, between Renton Road and Farrington Hwy, site of Aloun Farms; near Abutilon menziesii population Scrub vegetation 2-3 ft tall, primarily swollen fingergrass (Chloris barbata), with scattered clumps of Panicum maximum and mats of Cenchrus ciliaris. Locally abundant Abutilon incanum, Sida fallax, Waltheria indica. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Char, W.P. s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/2003
2 Salsola tragus L. growing in old crater of nameless cinder cone east of saddle road junction Growing in old crater of cindercone with fountain grass and a'alii. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN anderson, s.j. collector number: 455 Hawaii BISH 10/8/1981
3 Salsola tragus L. kahana, along dirt road below abandoned pineapple fields. Naturalized. Dry, lowland gulch of mainly Urochloa maxima with Amaranthus spinosus. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k.; nohara, w. collector number: 110412-01 Maui BISH 4/12/2011
4 Salsola tragus L. saddle road, waimea entrance PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kawasaki, a. collector number: 4 Hawaii BISH 8/3/1959
5 Salsola tragus L. sw extremities of a hard pan area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN aschmann, s. collector number: s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 4/18/1990
6 Salsola tragus L. by dump, molokai Vegetation: Leucaena leucocephala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k. collector number: 050516-3 Molokai BISH 5/16/2005
7 Salsola tragus L. on former sugarcane fields, between renton road and farrington hwy, site of aloun farms; near abutilon menziesii population Scrub vegetation 2-3 ft tall, primarily swollen fingergrass (Chloris barbata), with scattered clumps of Panicum maximum and mats of Cenchrus ciliaris. Locally abundant Abutilon incanum, Sida fallax, Waltheria indica. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN char, w.p. morden, c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 6/18/2003
8 Salsola tragus L. North Kona District, Pohkuloa Training Area, base of puu Keehee Abundant along jeep roads at base of Pu'u. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 9844 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1997
9 Salsola tragus L. se quadrant, slightly s of beck's cove PRESERVED_SPECIMEN aschmann, s. collector number: s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 4/24/1989
10 Salsola tragus L. SW extremities of a hard pan area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Aschmann, S. s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 4/18/1990
11 Salsola tragus L. T.N.C. survey transect 14 Becks Bay to Halona Point.. Mostly alien vegetation. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Steve Perlman 12610A Kahoolawe PTBG 2/22/1992
12 Salsola tragus L. SE quadrant, slightly S of Beck's Cove PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Aschmann, S. s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 4/24/1989
13 Salsola tragus L. Pulehunui. Growing along Pu lehu Road near pineapple fields. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H20113 Maui PTBG 2/9/2001
14 Salsola tragus L. Between Renton Road and Farrington Hwy, site of Aloun Farms; near Abutilon incanum Scrub vegetation 2-3 ft tall, on former sugarcane fields. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Winona Char s.n. Oahu PTBG 6/18/2003
15 Salsola tragus L. North Kona Distr., Phukuloa Training Area, base of Pu'u Ke'ehe'e PRESERVED_SPECIMEN D. R. Herbst 9844 Hawaii US 12/3/1997
16 Salsola tragus L. north kona distr., phukuloa training area, base of pu'u ke'ehe'e PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. r. herbst 9844 Hawaii US 12/3/1997
17 Salsola tragus L. SE quadrant, slightly S of Beck's Cove PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Aschmann, S. s.n. Kahoolawe US 4/24/1989
18 Salsola tragus L. North Kona Distr., Phukuloa Training Area, base of Pu'u Ke'ehe'e PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D. R. 9844 Hawaii US 12/3/1997
19 Salsola tragus L. Former sugarcane fields, between Renton Rd and Farrington Hwy, site of Aloun Farms. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Char, W. s. n. Oahu US 6/18/2003
20 Salsola tragus L. se quadrant, slightly s of beck's cove PRESERVED_SPECIMEN s. aschmann s.n. Kahoolawe US 4/24/1989
21 Salsola tragus L. former sugarcane fields, between renton rd and farrington hwy, site of aloun farms. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN w. char s. n. Oahu US 6/18/2003
22 Salsola tragus L. kapolei utm 2359010 594670 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oed frohlich, d.; lau, a. Maui US 11/15/2006
23 Salsola tragus L. SE quadrant; slightly S of Beck's Cove PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Aschmann, S. s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 4/24/1989
24 Salsola tragus L. north kona district, pohkuloa training area, base of puu keehee Abundant along jeep roads at base of Pu'u. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 9844 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1997
25 Salsola tragus L. East Maui, Makawao District, Pulehunui, along Holopuni Rd Roadside. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H50014 Maui BISH 5/13/2000
26 Salsola tragus L. east maui, makawao district, pulehunui, along holopuni rd PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h50014 Oahu BISH 5/13/2000
27 Salsola tragus L. By dump. Scrub, dump vegetation type. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forest Starr Starr-050516-3 Molokai PTBG 5/16/2005
28 Salsola tragus L. Kapolei UTM 2359010 594670 In weedy construction lot near new retail stores. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN OED s.n. Oahu BISH 11/15/2006
29 Salsola tragus L. Growing in old crater of nameless cinder cone east of Saddle Road Junction Growing in old crater of cindercone with fountain grass and a'alii. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Anderson, S.J. Collector Number: 455 Hawaii BISH 10/8/1981
30 Salsola tragus L. North Kona District, Pohkuloa Training Area, base of puu Keehee Abundant along jeep roads at base of Pu'u. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. Collector Number: 9844 Hawaii BISH 12/3/1997
31 Salsola tragus L. Kahana, along dirt road below abandoned pineapple fields. Naturalized. Dry, lowland gulch of mainly Urochloa maxima with Amaranthus spinosus. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 110412-01 Maui BISH 4/12/2011
32 Salsola tragus L. Along road between Waikaloa & Mamalahoa Highway PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 5373 Hawaii BISH 6/23/1975
33 Salsola tragus L. Growing in old crater of nameless cinder cone east of Saddle Road Junction Growing in old crater of cindercone with fountain grass and a'alii. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Anderson, S.J. 455 Hawaii BISH 10/8/1981
34 Salsola tragus L. East Maui, Makawao District, Pulehunui, along Holopuni Rd Roadside. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H50014 Maui BISH 5/13/2000
35 Salsola tragus L. Saddle Road, Waimea entrance PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kawasaki, A. 4 Hawaii BISH 8/3/1959
36 Salsola tragus L. By dump, Molokai Vegetation: Leucaena leucocephala PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 050516-3 Molokai BISH 5/16/2005
37 Salsola tragus L. Growing in old crater of nameless cinder cone east of Saddle Road Junction PRESERVED_SPECIMEN D. R. Herbst 9844 Hawaii HAPI 12/3/1997
38 Salsola tragus L. along road between waikaloa & mamalahoa highway PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. ishikawa, s. collector number: 5373 Oahu BISH 6/23/1975
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