Sarcobatus

For the region in the southwestern United States, see Sarcobatus Flat. For other plants called greasewood, see Greasewood.
Sarcobatus
Sarcobatus baileyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Sarcobataceae
Behnke
Genus: Sarcobatus
Nees
Species

see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Fremontia Torr.

Sarcobatus, is a North American genus of two species of flowering plants, formerly considered to be a single species. Common names for S. vermiculatus include greasewood, seepwood, and saltbush.[2] Traditionally, Sarcobatus has been treated in the family Chenopodiaceae, but the APG II system, of 2003, recognizes it as the sole genus in the family Sarcobataceae.

Description

Sarcobatus vermiculatus
Close-up of greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus

The Sarcobatus plants are deciduous[1] shrubs growing to 0.5–3 m tall with spiny branches and succulent leaves, 10–40 mm long and 1–2 mm broad. The leaves are green, in contrast to the grey-green color of most of the other shrubs within its range. The flowers are unisexual, with the male and female flowers on the same plant[1] and appear from June to August. The species reproduces from seeds and sprouts. S. vermiculatus was discovered in 1806 by the Lewis and Clark expedition's westward exploration of North America.[3]

Habitat

The Sarcobatus area of distribution is western North America, from southeastern British Columbia and southwest Alberta, Canada south through the drier regions of the United States (east to North Dakota and west Texas, west to central Washington and eastern California) to northern Mexico (Coahuila).

Both Sarcobatus species are halophytes, usually found in sunny, flat areas around the margins of playas and in dry stream beds and arroyos. It is replaced by iodine bush in extremely saline environments, such as hummocks within the playa itself. Greasewood often grows in extensive, nearly pure stands in pluvial desert locations and is most common on fine-grained soils in areas with a relatively high water table.

Uses

Although it can be grazed by animals that are adapted, grazing of greasewood by sheep and cattle can result in oxalate poisoning resulting in kidney failure.[4] The active agent can be either sodium oxalate or potassium oxalate. Sheep are the most vulnerable. Greasewood was commonly used for firewood by Native Americans and early settlers. The wood is yellow, very hard and tough.[5]

Taxonomy

Sarcobataceae has only recently been published, and such a family has been recognized by very few taxonomists.

The APG II system, of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, of 1998), does recognize this family and assigns it to the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots. The family comprises the single genus, Sarcobatus. These plants were formerly treated in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Species

The name Sarcobatus comes from Greek sarko (meaning flesh) and batos (meaning bramble), referring to the species' spiny branches and succulent leaves.

The two species are:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Matthew H. Hils, John W. Thieret & James D. Morefield. "Sarcobatus". In Stanley L. Welsh, Clifford W. Crompton & Steven E. Clemants. Flora of North America, volume 4, Chenopodiaceae.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matthew H. Hils, John W. Thieret & James D. Morefield. "Sarcobatus vermiculatus". In Stanley L. Welsh, Clifford W. Crompton & Steven E. Clemants. Flora of North America, volume 4, Chenopodiaceae.
  3. ↑ "Lewis and Clark as naturalists". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
  4. ↑ A. P. Knight and R. G. Walter. "Plants Causing Kidney Failure". In A.P. Knight and R.G. Walter. A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton NewMedia, Jackson WY (www.veterinarywire.com) and International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), Ithaca, New York, USA.
  5. ↑  Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Greasewood". Encyclopedia Americana.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Matthew H. Hils, John W. Thieret & James D. Morefield. "Sarcobatus baileyi". In Stanley L. Welsh, Clifford W. Crompton & Steven E. Clemants. Flora of North America, volume 4, Chenopodiaceae.

External links

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