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PRE — Plant Risk Evaluator

Salsola ryanii

Common Name(s)
prickly Russian thistle, tumbleweed

Is this plant a cultivar?  No

Life History:  Annual

Growth Form:  shrub

"Salsola ryanii (2n=54) is a newly formed weedy allohexaploid derivative of S. tragus (2n=36) and S. australis (2n=16), which formed in situ in California in the last 20–100 years (Hrusa and Gaskin 2008)." S. tragus: Africa, Asia, Europe S. australis (per Welles & Ellstrand 2016): "Salsola australis is a weed in California and Arizona and is likely native to Australia or South Africa (Borger et al. 2008). Salsola australis is morphologically very similar to S. tragus and was not recognized as a distinct species until recently (Ryan and Ayres 2000). "

Hrusa and Gaskin 2008:
"Salsola ryanii sp. nov Annual plant up to 2 m tall. Stems cylindric, sparsely hispid or glabrous. Stem ribs usually green, sometimes reddening. Tepals in maturity remaining hyaline, soft. Wings of tepals of fruits white or pinkish, with veins visible but not prominent. Minor-wings of tepals more or less spatulate, below narrowed, above expanded, with limb broader than claw. Fruit, wings included, 5.2–7.2 mm in diameter; upper fruits winged, basal partly winged or not winged. At maturity semipersistent, partly invested by subtending bract. Anthers 0.5–1.3 mm long. The epithet honors Fred Ryan of the USDA/ ARS, who first collected and recognized this entity... Salsola ryanii is morphologically intermediate between S. tragus and S. australis in nearly all features, and this intermediacy makes it a challenge to recognize on its own."
 

None.

External Resources
GBIF Species Page
Tropicos Species Page
Welles and Ellstrand 2016 (open access)
Hrusa and Gaskin 2008 (pdf direct download)
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