Salsola tragus

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Salsola tragus
S. tragus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllidae Family: Amaranthaceae Subfamily: Chenopodiaceae Genus: Salsola Species: S. tragus
Binomial name
Salsola tragus L.
Synonyms
Salsola kali

Salsola tragus is a plant species that is commonly known as Prickly Saltwort, Russian Thistle, or Glasswort. Salsola tragus is an annual that grows in arid soils and in sandy coastal soils. Its original range is Eurasian, but it has become naturalized, and even invasive, in North America, Australia, and elsewhere. The dried plant can detach and become a tumbleweed.

[edit] Alkali and soda ash

Main article: Soda ash

See also: Salsola soda

The ashes of Salsola tragus contain as much as 30% sodium carbonate, which is one of the alkali materials essential to making glass, soap, and many other commodites. The word alkali derives from the Arabic al qaly, or "from Kali", referring to the misapplied species name "Salsola kali". Salsola soda, Salsola tragus, and other saltwort and glasswort plants were an important source of soda ash until the early 19th century. In Spain, the saltwort plants were called barrilla, and were the basis of a large 18th century industry. In the early 19th century, plant sources were supplanted by synthetic soda ash produced using the Leblanc process.