tamarisk: Tamarix spp. (Violales: Tamaricaceae)

tamarisk	USDA PLANTS Symbol: TAMAR2 USDA ARS GRIN: 300598 ITIS: 22303
Tamarix spp. L.
Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Violales: Tamaricaceae
Tamarisk, or salt cedar, is deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 ft. (4.6 m) in height. Leaves are small (1/16 in. [0.15 cm] long), scale-like, gray-green, and overlap along the stem. Leaves are often coated with salt crystals. The bark is smooth and reddish on younger plants, turning brown and furrowed with age. Flowering occurs from March to September. Flowers are pink to white and develop in 2 in. (5.1 cm) long clusters (spikes) at the tips of the branches. Several species are considered invasive in the United States and distinguishing the species can often be difficult. Tamarisk invades streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, wetlands, moist rangelands and saline environments. It can crowd out native riparian species, diminish early successional habitat and reduce water tables, thus interfering with hydrologic processes. The stems and leaves of mature plants secrete salt. These salt secretions inhibit the growth and development of other plants. A large, mature plant can absorb up to 200 gallons (757 L) of water a day! Tamarisk is native to Eurasia and Africa and was introduced into the western United States as an ornamental in the early 1800s. It occurs throughout the western and central United States, but it is most problematic in the Southwest.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Selected Images from Invasive.org

Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation; invading entire floodplain Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage