"Tumbleweed," "Russian thistle" and "wind witch" are common names for this symbol of the American west. July 15, 2001. state. tenuifolia Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family) Eurasia . It occurs throughout the western states, more often in drier areas. Copyright: various copyright holders. Its morphological characteristics are highly variable and may be expressed at any given location (Fig 2). Leaves are alternate, semi-succulent to succulent, 0.6-2 in (1.5-5 cm) long and 0.01-0.04 in (0.3-1 … 2020 USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center (NPDC). Most people, however, would fail to recognize the seedling and juvenile plant’s bright green, succulent, grass-like shoots, which are usually red or purple striped. Recent taxonomic work has demonstrated that what has been named Salsola tragus likely consists of several morphologically similar species that differ in flower size and shape.
Stems vary from 8 to 36 inches in length and usually have reddish to purplish stripes. Salsola kali: leaf blades linear, fleshy in life, 1–2 mm wide in drying, gradually narrowed to a firm, spine tip 0.5–1.5 mm long (vs. S. tragus, with leaf blades narrow- linear to filiform, not or only scarcely fleshy in life, narrower than 1 mm wide drying, abruptly narrowed to a relatively soft, pointed tip). Inconspicuous green flowers grow at axils (where leaf branches off of stem) of the upper leaves, each one accompanied by a pair of spiny bracts. Usage Requirements. (Wetland indicator code: Russian thistle is common throughout California, especially in the southern region to an elevation of 8900 feet (2… The stems are often lined with red. image, please click it to see who you will need to contact.Note: when native and non-native A specialized layer of cells in the stem facilitates the easy break between plant and root, and the journey begins anew. Russian thistle alludes to its Eurasian origin. It then quickly sends up two needle-like leaves and begins to shoot skyward. United States, UT, Grand Co., Cisco vicinity. Russian thistle is a large and bushy noxious annual broadleaf plant. Russian thistle is a bushy summer annual with numerous slender ascending stems that become quite woody at maturity. Young plants are suitable for livestock forage and are sometimes grazed. For details, please check with your state.All images and text © Peterson. Native Plant Trust or respective copyright holders. The leaves are blue-green, narrowly linear to threadlike, alternate, and become stiff and spine-tipped in mature plants.
Tumbleweed Russian Thistle June Photo . As the fruit develops, the flower sepals enlarge, thicken, and become cream, pale green, pink, or red membranous wings. This noxious weed now occupies much of North America. iberica = S. kali var. Leaves of young plants are fleshy, dark green, narrow, and about 1 inch in length. Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields Russian-thistle can impede traffic, create fire hazards, and is a host of the beet leaf-hopper, an agricultural insect pest. Salsola tragus (Russian-thistle) is a large, bushy summer annual (family Chenopodiaceae). FACU) Salsola tragus L. =Salsola australis =S. Scientific names for tumbleweed include When moisture falls, the plant is ready to uncoil and germinate. All rights reserved.The Go Botany project is supported ©J.S. Prickly saltwort was probably imported from Russia to South Dakota in 1870 or 1874 in flax seed. It is one of several plants that may form tumbleweeds, breaking off at the base after drying, and rolling great distances, blown by the wind and scattering seeds as it goes. To reuse an