Salsola soda
Sp. Pl. 1: 233. 1753.
Herbs, 5–70 cm, glabrous. Stems erect or ascending, branched from base or nearly so; branches straight or slightly arcuate (proximal ones sometimes almost prostrate). Leaves (especially proximal ones) mostly opposite; blade linear, usually more than 1.5 mm wide in herbarium specimens, fleshy, distinctly swollen or ovate at base, apex mucronulate, not spinose. Inflorescences distinctly interrupted, 1-flowered; bracts alternate or almost opposite, not imbricate, horizontally reflexed at maturity, swollen at base, abruptly narrowing into mucronulate nonspinose apex. Flowers: bracteoles distinct, not adnate to perianth segments; perianth segments wingless or with rudimental triangular tubercles at maturity, margins crenate or pectinate-ciliate apically, glabrous; fruiting perianth ca. 3–6 (–7) mm diam. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Coastal and disturbed saline habitats
Elevation: 0-50 m
Distribution
Introduced; Calif., Eurasia, n Africa, in South America
Discussion
Salsola soda can be expected to spread in California, or to appear in inland or coastal saline habitats in southern states.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"narrowing" is not a number.