- Appearance
- Salsola tragus is an annual herb that can grow to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. It was introduced into the United States in the mid 1870s, possibly as a contaminant in flax seed.
- Foliage
- Leaves are alternate and narrow. Upper leaves have a sharp point at the apex and are 1.3-2 in. (3.3-5.1 cm) long.
- Flowers
- Flowering occurs from midsummer to fall, when small, pink to greenish flowers develop from the leaf axils. Each flower is subtended by 3, spine-tipped leaves.
- Fruit
- Fruits are 0.19-0.31 in. (4.8-7.9 mm) in diameter including the wings. Wings are opaque with smooth margins and veins.
- Ecological Threat
- After Salsola tragus matures it detaches from the root system and tumbles in the wind, spreading seed (like another common name “tumbleweed” suggests). It is native to Eurasia.
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