Code
SASKA
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
Salsola kali L.
synonym | Corispermum pilosum Raf. |
synonym | Kali australis (R.Br.) Akhani & Roalson |
synonym | Kali soda Moench |
synonym | Kali turgidum (Dumort.) Gutermann |
synonym | Salsola acicularis Salisb. |
synonym | Salsola aptera Iljin |
synonym | Salsola decumbens Lam. |
synonym | Salsola gmelinii Rouy |
synonym | Salsola rosacea Cav. |
synonym | Salsola scariosa Stokes |
synonym | Salsola spinosa Lam. |
synonym | Salsola turgida Dumort. |
Arabic |
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English |
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French |
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Italian |
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Other |
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Portuguese |
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Spanish; Castilian |
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Seedling
Cotyledons linear, 18-22 x 1 mm, sessile, hairless. Frist leaves opposite, simple, linear, semi-cylindrical, mucronate, fleshy, glabrous. The hypocotyl axis is 20 mm long and pink. Seedling dark green.
Adult plant
Salsola kali is an annual, erect plant. Stem very branched-diffuse, robust, fluted, green or reddish, up to 70 cm high, hispid. Leaves 10-50 mm long, cylindrical or semi-cylindrical, enlarged at the base, fleshy, ending abruptly in a vulnating spine, those at the base opposite, the upper ones alternate. Axillary flowers, 1-4 in number, surpassed by oval bracts, spreading and spiny at the end. Fruiting calyx with membranous, pink, eroded transverse wings. Lenticels flattened and smooth.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Life cycle
Algeria: Salsola kali germinates in late spring and flowers from July to October.
Morocco: Salsola kali flowers from May to September.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Salsola kali reproduces by seed.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Growth form
Leaf arrangement
Leaf type
Equality of opposite leaves
Latex
Stem section
Root type
Hollow or solid stem
Stipule type
Leaf attachment type
Fruit type
Achene type
Cotyledon type
Lamina margin
Lamina apex
Upperface pilosity
Upperface hair type
Lowerface pilosity
Lowerface hair type
Simple leaf type
Lamina section
Lamina Veination
Flower color
Inflorescence type
Stem pilosity
Stem hair type
Life form
Algeria: Salsola kali is a fairly rare species in the various perennial crops (orchards and vineyards) in the north of the country, also occupying ruderal habitats (roadsides, wasteland, salty mud, alluvial fans, etc.). Preference for sandy to silty soils, more or less nitrophilous and halophilous (from the Latin salsus = salty: plant of salty places).
France - Camargue: Salsola kali can be found between salt ponds and sansouires, but is mainly found on coastal dunes.
Morocco: Salsola kali is a common species in pastures on sandy soil, dunes, wadi beds and coastal sands, as well as in gravel and salty seeps in the interior of the country.
South Africa: Salsola kali grows in dry grasslands, disturbed or uncultivated areas, roadsides, on sandy soil. Widespread in dry, rocky areas.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Habitat
Origin
Salsola kali is native to paleo-temperate regions (Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe).
Worldwide distribution
A species that has become cosmopolitan, introduced into North and South America, South Africa and Australia.
Algeria: Common on the coast, rare in the coastal plains of Oran and the Algerian and Oranese high plateaux.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Local harmfulness
Algeria: Salsola kali is a minor "weed". Infrequent and not very abundant, it is not generally a problem for crops.
South Africa: Salsola kali is a very problematic plant, tough and unappetising, blocking rainwater drainage channels and competing with native species. It can rapidly colonise new areas, particularly overgrazed, bare and eroded soils. The plants are unpalatable, leading to selective grazing by domestic livestock, which exacerbates existing overgrazing and paves the way for further invasion of ragweed. It is present in the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Local harmfulness
Algeria: Salsola kali is a minor "weed". Infrequent and not very abundant, it is not generally a problem for crops.
South Africa: Salsola kali is a very problematic plant, tough and unappetising, blocking rainwater drainage channels and competing with native species. It can rapidly colonise new areas, particularly overgrazed, bare and eroded soils. The plants are unpalatable, leading to selective grazing by domestic livestock, which exacerbates existing overgrazing and paves the way for further invasion of ragweed. It is present in the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Food: The salty-tasting young shoots of Salsola kali, harvested in June, can be eaten raw or cooked.
Industry: Salsola kali is very rich in potassium and sodium, and its ash ("blanquette" or "salicor" in France, "barilla" in Spain, "rochetta" in Sicily, etc.) has been used since ancient times to make soap and glass, hence its name "glass herb".
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
- Invasives South Africa https://invasives.org.za/fact-sheet/tumbleweed/
- Kazi Tani C., Grard P. & Le Bourgeois T., 2021. "AdvenAlg 1.0 Identification et connaissance des principales adventices d'Algérie méditerranéenne." Al Yasmina, Revue de Botanique 2(3): 1-187.
- Flora Maroccana (Dobignard A.) https://www.floramaroccana.fr/salsola-kali.html
- Marnotte, P., Carrara, A., Dominati, E. & Girardot, F. 2006. Plantes des rizières de Camargue. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Centre français du riz, Parc naturel régional de Camargue. http://plantes-rizieres-camargue.cirad.fr/dicotyledones/chenopodiaceae/salsola_kali
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303401-2
- The World Flora Online https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000435928
- CABI https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.50297
- Invasives South Africa https://invasives.org.za/fact-sheet/tumbleweed/
- Kazi Tani C., Grard P. & Le Bourgeois T., 2021. "AdvenAlg 1.0 Identification et connaissance des principales adventices d'Algérie méditerranéenne." Al Yasmina, Revue de Botanique 2(3): 1-187.
- Flora Maroccana (Dobignard A.) https://www.floramaroccana.fr/salsola-kali.html
- Marnotte, P., Carrara, A., Dominati, E. & Girardot, F. 2006. Plantes des rizières de Camargue. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Centre français du riz, Parc naturel régional de Camargue. http://plantes-rizieres-camargue.cirad.fr/dicotyledones/chenopodiaceae/salsola_kali
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303401-2
- The World Flora Online https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000435928
- CABI https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.50297
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Caryophyllales |
Family | Amaranthaceae |
Genus | Salsola |
Species | Salsola kali L. |