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Salsola tragus

Species category

Weed

Common name

prickly Russian thistle, tumbleweed

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

True seedTrue seed:
A mature fertilized ovule consisting of an embryo, with or without and external food reserve (e.g., endosperm) enclosed by the testa.

Shape

Conical

Size

  • Length 1.5–2 mm
  • Width 1.8–2 mm
  • Thickness 1.5–2 mm

Color

Yellowish-brown seed and fruitFruit:
A mature ovary and any associated parts.
; sepals grayish-brown.

Texture

Seeds are semi-glossy; sepals are dull and membranous.

Other structures

EmbryoEmbryo:
A rudimentary plant contained in a seed, usually consisting of a more or less differentiated axis and attached cotyledon(s).
 coil visible; sepals are short.

Identification notes

Unit can be a seed, fruitFruit:
A mature ovary and any associated parts.
 or flower. Seed is a symmetrical cone made of several coils of a linear embryoEmbryo:
A rudimentary plant contained in a seed, usually consisting of a more or less differentiated axis and attached cotyledon(s).
.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: California, Arizona 

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Amaranthaceae

Valid name

Salsola tragus L.

Synonyms

Salsola australis R. Br.
Salsola iberica (Sennen & Pau) Botsch. ex Czerep.
Salsola kali L. ssp. ruthenica (Iljin) Soó
Salsola kali L. ssp. tragus (L.) Celak.
Salsola kali L. ssp. tenuifolia Moq. S
Salsola pestifer A. Nelson
Salsola ruthenica Iljin

From Left to Right: 1. and 2. Salsola collina 3. and 4. Salsola tragus . Stems.
From Left to Right: 1. and 2. Salsola collina 3. and 4. Salsola tragus. Stems.
Salsola tragus. Semi-glossy true seeds with dull and membranous sepals.
Salsola tragus. Semi-glossy true seeds with dull and membranous sepals.