''Halimodendron'' is a monotypic genus of
legume containing the single species ''Halimodendron halodendron'', which is known by several common names, including common salt tree and Russian salt tree. It is closely related to the genus ''
Caragana
''Caragana'' is a genus of about 80–100 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to Asia and eastern Europe.
They are shrubs or small trees growing tall. They have even-pinnate leaves with small leaflets, and solitary or clu ...
''.
It is native to Russia and southern Asia, but it can be found on other continents where it is an
introduced species
An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived ther ...
, and one that is often a
noxious weed. This is a deciduous spiny shrub sprawling to a few meters in maximum width and up to three meters tall. Stems branch from the base and bear clusters of about four leaflets on sharp spurs. The ends of branches narrow to spines. Flowers also appear at the ends of spurs in clusters of two to four pink pealike blossoms each one to two centimeters wide. The fruit is a black woody inflated pod about 2 centimeters long containing
legume seeds. The plant has a deep and wide root system, with the lateral roots sending up new shoots. In this manner the plant forms extensive thickets. When introduced to an area of suitable climate, such as
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
where it is a known weed, it can invade cultivated land and spread relatively quickly. It is tolerant of saline soils.
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfilePhoto gallery
Hedysareae
Monotypic Fabaceae genera
{{Faboideae-stub