Tamarix ramosissima

Tamarix ramosissima
Saltcedar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Tamaricaceae
Genus: Tamarix
Species: T. ramosissima
Binomial name
Tamarix ramosissima
Ledeb.

Tamarix ramosissima, commonly known as saltcedar[1] or salt cedar, is a deciduous arching shrub with reddish stems, feathery, pale green foliage, and characteristic small pink flowers.

Description

Tamarix ramosissima is a hardy shrub or small tree native to Europe and Asia. It is a vigorous, deciduous shrub grown for its ornamental reddish stems, its showy plumes of flowers, and its unusual feathery leaves. Its hardiness and tolerance for poor soil make it a popular, easy to grow shrub. It can grow up to 8 m in height and up to 5 m in width. It can be used as a screen, windbreak, informal hedge or specimen shrub.[2]

It produces upright racemes of small, pink, five-petaled flowers from late summer to early autumn which cover the new wood of the plant. It is tolerant of many soil types, but prefers a well drained, light or sandy soil in full sun. This plant is considered an invasive species in warmer climates.[2]

Invasive species

Tamarix ramosissima is a major invasive plant species in the Southwestern United States and Desert Region of California, consuming large amounts of groundwater in riparian and oases habitats.[2] The balance and strength of the native flora and fauna are being helped by various restoration projects, by removing tamarisk groves as if they were noxious weeds.[3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tamarix ramosissima.

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "Tamarix ramosissima". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Zouhar, Kris. 2003. Tamarix spp. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  3. ↑ Afton Canyon Riparian Restoration Project Fourth Year Status Report. Bureau of Land Management. accessed 6/20/2010


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