However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Classification. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Distribution: Russian thistle is a summer annual native to southeastern Russia and western Siberia and was originally introduced into the United States as a contaminant of flax seed in South Dakota in 1873. Annual. © 2020 Regents of the University of California. The peregrinating (highly traveled) plant also grows abundantly in Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa and Turkey. It was likely one of the first weeds introduced by North American settlers in the 1600s as a contaminant in seeds. Plant Type. Plants branch profusely, forming dense clumps, several feet high and wide. Mites, moths, and beetles that exhibit sufficient host specificity may potentially be effective natural enemies of this weed. To survive winter without a warm coat, the plant does not germinate until warm weather arrives. Kochia is found in all western states except Alaska. 900 University Ave. Russian thistle is the primary host for the beet leafhopper (Circulifera tenellus) that carries the "curly-top virus" of sugar beets, tomatoes, squashes, melons and cucumbers. Typically, an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flowerheads. There does not yet appear to be a consensus on the preferred scientific name, although S. tragus is the leading candidate for the inland variety of tumbleweed and S. kali, for the more coastal variety. Hairy fleabane, a common summer annual or biennial broadleaf of disturbed, unmanaged areas and cultivated fields, may be confused with horseweed, Conyza canadensis.Hairy fleabane is found in the Central Valley, central-western region, and southwestern region, to about 3300 feet (1000 m). It has become pervasive as an exotic weed species throughout California and the western United States. Derivation of the botanical name: Salsola, Latin salsus, salty. How Russian Thistle is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. Russian thistle tumbleweed This plant and the related entities and synonyms italicized and indented above can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. kali, from the Arabic al qaly, from Kali, an area of Saudi Arabia called the Rub al-Kali or Rub al-Khali, the "Empty Quarter." Fax: (951) 827-5104, Department of Entomology Typical Bloom (varies by elevation) July. Description. Salsola is derived from the Latin sallere, "to salt," in reference to the plant’s salt tolerance. A severe drought in the 1930’s in Canada led farmers to use young tumbleweeds as hay and silage for livestock. "Tumbleweed," "Russian thistle" and "wind witch" are common names for this symbol of the American west. Russian thistle contains a source of nutrients and essential minerals. Browse by Scientific Name. Herbicides now control the spread of Russian thistle by disrupting the maturation process of the plant. Appearance Salsola tragus is an annual herb that can grow to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Russian Thistle Facts •Scientific name - Salsola kali, Salsola australis, Salsola iberica, Salsola tragus •Native to Russia and western Siberia •Arrived in U.S. in 1873 in South Dakota •Found on disturbed sites •Bushy summer annual •Woody at maturity Plant Origin. Russian Thistle, Salsola australis The Situation: Russian thistle, commonly known as tumbleweed, is a profusely branched annual herb. Like many invasive weeds, Russian thistle exploited the destruction of native ecosystems. The .gov means it’s official. As the consequence, it is also known that Russian thistle has benefit to treat smallpox. Abutilon theophrasti - velvetleaf; Acroptilon repens - Russian knapweed; Aegilops cylindrica - jointed goatgrass, jointgrass; Aegilops triuncialis - barb … Below is a list of all the weeds in our database, sorted by scientific name. Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Notes Young plants have dark green fleshy leaves that become stiff, shortened, and form a point. Hence, you can consult the doctor before using this plant to prevent any risks for sure.  Economic Impact: In addition to being a nuisance, Russian thistle is an expense to both public and private property owners. Elevation range is from below sea level in Death Valley to over 8500 feet. Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. You may also view the list sorted by common name. Salsola tragus is the most widespread of eight species of this non-native genus to have become established in the US, after being introduced in the 1870s. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Foliage Leaves are … Photos courtesy of UC IPM and Jack Kelly Clark, Mark Hoddle, Extension Specialist and Director of Center for Invasive Species Researchmark.hoddle@ucr.edu Personal Website, 900 University Ave. The seeds require only … Within two decades the plant had tumbled into a dozen states, and by 1900, tumbleweed had reached the Pacific Coast. Leaves are clustered, linear to thread-like, and terminate in a spike. Range Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) also referred to as tumbleweed is a summer annual belonging to the family Amaranthaceae.Stems of this plant vary in length from 8 to 36 inches, and are stripped with red or purple markings. Non Native Invasive Species California - where? Scientific names for tumbleweed include Salsola kali, S. pestifer, S. australis, S. iberica, and S. tragus. Russian thistle is a bushy summer annual with numerous slender ascending stems that become quite woody at maturity. Text provided by Richard D. Goeden, updated by Mark S. Hoddle Kali tragus, formerly called Salsola tragus or Salsola kali subsp. A specialized layer of cells in the stem facilitates the easy break between plant and root, and the journey begins anew. Color. Russian thistles or tumbleweed of the genus Salsola are annual weeds, mostly native to Europe and Asia, but introduced globally. Leaves of young plants are fleshy, dark green, narrow, and about 1 inch in length. Tumbleweeds were first reported in the United States around 1877 in Bon Homme County, South Dakota, apparently transported in flax seed imported by Ukrainian farmers. Salsola infests many tens … Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Stems vary from 8 to 36 inches in length and usually have reddish to purplish stripes. The mature plants break off at ground level, creating spiny, brittle, windblown tumbleweeds that fill drainage canals, catchments and swimming pools, and pile up against fences and dwellings, becoming eyesores, fire hazards, and foci for the accumulation of other windblown debris. Tel: (951) 827-6555 Sal-SO-la TRAY-gus. As it rolls down a desert road, Russian thistle plants do what they do best, disperse seeds, which typically number 250,000 per plant. Desert Geological Terms, Home  | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Aquis Towels | Hotels, 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience. Plant Family. Seedlings have very finely dissected leaves that almost look like pine needles. It then quickly sends up two needle-like leaves and begins to shoot skyward. Wildflower. When moisture falls, the plant is ready to uncoil and germinate. Uses, Benefits, Cures, Side Effects, Nutrients in Russian Thistle. The spine-tipped leaves are oval. Although tumbleweed is native to the arid steppes of the Ural Mountains in Russia, it is now ubiquitous throughout the western states, growing in disturbed soils such as agricultural fields, irrigation canals and roadside shoulders and ditches. (It's Free. Seeds are unusual in that they lack any protective coat or stored food reserves. Years later, it was identified as Russian thistle, scientific name Salsola tragus, a native plant of Russia and the Eurasian steppes east of the Ural Mountains. Russian Thistle "Tumbleweed," "Russian thistle" and "wind witch" are common names for this symbol of the American west. Names of Russian Thistle in various languages of the world are also given. Russian Thistle Scientific Name: Salsola kali (also Salsola tragus and Salsola iberica) Russian thistle is least noticed when it is young - slender, green and soft - and most noticed when it's … The plant has several common names including Common saltwort, Prickly Russian thistle, Prickly saltwort, Russian thistle, saltwort, Russian tumbleweed, prickly glasswort, roly-poly, spiny saltwort and Soft roly-poly. Russian thistle alludes to its Eurasian origin. Scientific Name. Russian thistle originated in Russia and was brought to the U.S. in the late 1800’s as a contaminant of North Dakota flax seed. Kochia, a native of Asia, was introduced from Europe. Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. Mice, bighorn sheep and pronghorn eat the tender shoots. Research: Russian thistle is an exotic weed species and is a good candidate for biological control. Young plants are suitable for livestock forage and are sometimes grazed. Several herbicides are available that can … While the economic impact to the state of California has not been well documented, costs include clean-up of public roadways and thoroughfares, loss of seed crops due to contamination by thistle seed and illness or even death of foraging livestock, and degradation of California's valuable and highly diverse wilderness areas. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. The Latin or “scientific” name for most or all of the tumbleweeds occurring in the Antelope Valley is Salsola tragus or Salsola kali. Russian thistle is a prolific seed producer. Care must be taken to supplement the diet of animals if these plants are the sole source of forage in the area or poisoning may result. At maturity, the plant is stiff, prickly, round and bushy. The North American Deserts Dried ones tumble across desert landscapes, driven by the wind, a recurrent display of desolation in the American Southwest. The Situation: Russian thistle, commonly known as tumbleweed, is a profusely branched annual herb. The more common name for tumbleweeds is Russian thistle. Damage: Russian thistle is damaging as a seed contaminant, as a forage weed that may contain toxic levels of soluble oxalates and nitrates, and as an alternative host of several economically significant insect species. Within 20 years, it had spread to 16 western states and several Canadian provinces. tragus: a common weed of disturbed habitats, commonly known as … Plants thrive in salty and alkaline soils but will generally be outcompeted by natives in undisturbed habitats. Riverside, CA 92521 Although prickly like a thistle, Prickly Russian Thistle is not a true thistle. Canada Thistle Despite its common name, this invasive thistle is not native to Canada, but actually native throughout Europe and Northern Asia. Photos and descriptions of Hairy fleabane. Echinops exaltatus, also known as Russian globe thistle, is a globe thistle native to Eurasia and an invasive species in Eastern Canada and Northern United States. It is likely that alkaline plants grow there. Salsola tragus. Additional insect enemies from the weed's native central Asia should also be introduced and evaluated. Special Characteristics. Phytopathogens may also offer promise and should be investigated as possible biological control agents. Russian thistle tumbleweeds present a serious fire hazard. Both species are non-native to the United States. It had been accidentally brought to the United States in a shipment of flaxseed. The stems have distinctive dark purplish striations (parallel to the stem) when the plant is young and growing. By autumn the plant has reached maximum size, flowered and begun to dry out. Russian thistle alludes to its Eurasian origin. Allergenic – The pollen is an allergen. Tumbleweed is a manybranched, annual herb growing to 2 to 6 feet tall. Both Russian thistle and kochia can also be controlled by grazing animals on the plants if they are young. Scientific Pronunciation. Riverside, CA 92521, CNAS Dean's Office When farmers removed prairie grasses, they created a perfect environment, smooth and flat, for a plant that could roll across the landscape dispersing seeds. A pith-boring moth and a case-bearing moth have been established as biocontrol agents in California, but are ineffective. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. Common Name(s): Russian Thistle, Tumbleweed, Thistle,Russian: Scientific Name: Salsola iberica: Family: Chenopodiaceae: Longevity: Annual: Season: Warm Russian thistle is a large and bushy annual broadleaf plant that is common in the Mojave Desert. Inconspicuous green flowers grow at axils (where leaf branches off of stem) of the upper leaves, each one accompanied by a pair of spiny bracts. Duration. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. The similar Barbwire Russian Thistle (Salsola paulsenii) is not found in the southeastern part of Arizona, while Russian Thistle (Salsola kali) is not found in Arizona. Scientific names for tumbleweed include Salsola kali, S. pestifer, S. australis, S. iberica, and S. tragus. List of various diseases cured by Russian Thistle. Plants may be as small as a soccer ball or as large as a Volkswagen beetle. The Sons of Pioneers made the song Tumbling Tumbleweeds popular in the 1940’s. All that is required are temperatures between 28 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The generic name Salsola means salty, while kali refers to ashes, in allusion to a … Description Non-Native. The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the University of California Exotic Pests and Diseases Research Program has supported foreign exploration by USDA and UC entomologists in recent years, and natural enemies have been studied at the USDA European Biological Control Laboratory in southern France. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar. Other Names: Prickly Russian-thistle, Russian-thistle, Salsola australis, Salsola kali [misapplied], Salsola pestifer, Salsola iberica Most people, however, would fail to recognize the seedling and juvenile plant’s bright green, succulent, grass-like shoots, which are usually red or purple striped. Chenopodiaceae. Kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) and Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.) are troublesome annual weeds of rangelands, pastures, fields, disturbed areas, gardens, roadsides, ditchbanks, and small acreages. It is now widespread throughout western North America, including virtually all arid and semi-arid regions of California and Russian thistle infests around 100 million acres of land. Treats Wasp Stings. Riverside, CA 92521. 3. The stems break at ground level and roll in the wind causing the seeds to fall. Its efficient taproot, abundant seed production and reduced leaf surface adapt this weed well to disturbed semiarid agricultural environments, rangeland and nonagricultural areas such as vacant resident lots and railroad or highway rights-of-way. More on desert photography. Common name(s): Siberian elm, Asiatic elm, Chinese elm, dwarf elm Scientific name: Ulmus pumila Family: Elm family (Ulmaceae) Reasons for concern: Large, dangerous limbs on older trees can easily break off and seriously damage properties or injure people.It is susceptible to many diseases (not Dutch-elm disease), insects, and growth disorders. Virtually everyone recognizes a mature Russian thistle, which looks like the skeleton of a normal shrub. Thus the common name tumbleweed. Geology Building, Room 2258 When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Habits/Habitats Green. 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