The Salsoloideae are a subfamily of the

Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...

, formerly in family

Chenopodiaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...

Description

These are

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s and some

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s. Stems and leaves are often

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

. The ovary contains a spiral embryo. In most genera, scarious wings develop at the outside of the fruiting perianth, allowing for dispersal by the wind (

anemochory In Spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vectors, ...

). In tribe Caroxyleae, the stamens have vesiculose anther appendages, discolor with anthers, that probably play a role for insect pollination. In tribe Salsoleae the anther appendages are absent or small and inconspicuous.

Distribution

The area with most species (

center of diversity A center of origin is a geographical area where a group of organisms, either domesticated or wild, first developed its distinctive properties. They are also considered centers of diversity. Centers of origin were first identified in 1924 by Ni ...

) are the deserts and semideserts of Central-Asia and the Middle East. Distribution of the subfamily extends to the Mediterranean, to Middle-Europe, north and south Africa, and Australia, some species have also been introduced to America. Many species grow in dry habitats (

xerophyte A xerophyte (from Ancient Greek language, Greek ξηρός ''xeros'' 'dry' + φυτόν ''phuton'' 'plant') is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water, such as a desert such as the Sahara or pl ...

s) or tolerate salty soils (

halophyte A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and seashores. T ...

s), some are ruderals.

Photosynthesis pathway

Salsoloideae are plants (with a few exceptions in tribe Salsoleae). Tribe Caroxyleae is exclusively of the

NAD-malic enzyme Malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) () or NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction :(S)-malate + NAD+ \rightleftharpoons pyruvate + CO2 + NADH Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are (S)-malate and NA ...

subtype. Most Salsoleae also use the

NADP-malic enzyme Malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+) () or NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction in the presence of a bivalent metal ion: :(S)-malate + NADP+ \rightleftharpoons pyruvate + CO2 + NAD ...

Taxonomy

The type genus of subfamily Salsoloideae is ''

Salsola ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' L. According to recent research, the former classification did not reflect the phylogenetic relationship, so that the subfamily had to be reclassified; it is now split in two

tribes The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...

, Caroxyleae and Salsoleae (in the strict sense). The tribe Camphorosmeae is now treated in its own subfamily,

Camphorosmoideae Camphorosmeae is a species-rich tribe of the Amaranthaceae, formerly Chenopodiaceae, with 20 genera and about 179 species. It is classified as a single tribe of subfamily Camphorosmoideae. Description The Camphorosmeae are mostly dwarf shrubs ...

Caroxyleae

Caroxyleae Akhani & E. H. Roalson (as "Caroxyloneae") * '' Caroxylon'' Thunb., with 43 species * '' Climacoptera'' Botsch., with 41 species * ''

Halarchon ''Halarchon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goos ...

'' Bunge, with one species ** ''Halarchon vesiculosum'' (Moq.) Bunge * ''

Halimocnemis ''Halimocnemis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its native range is Eastern Mediterranean to Xinjiang Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), off ...

'' C. A. Mey., with 27 species (Syn. ''Gamanthus'' Bunge, ''Halanthium'' C. Koch, ''Halotis'' Bunge) * '' Halocharis'' Moq., with 7 species * ''

Kaviria ''Kaviria'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its native range is Somalia to Arabian Peninsula, Syria to Central Asia and Pakistan. Species: *''Kaviria aucheri'' *''Kaviria azaurena'' *''Kaviria gossypina'' ...

'' Akhani & E. H. Roalson, with 10 species * '' Nanophyton'' Less., with ca. 10 species * '' Ofaiston'' Raf., with one species ** ''Ofaiston monandrum'' (Pall.) Moq. * '' Petrosimonia'' Bunge, with 12 species * '' Piptoptera'' Bunge, with one species ** ''Piptoptera turkestana'' Bunge * '' Physandra'' Botsch., with one species ** ''Physandra halimocnemis'' (Botsch.) Botsch. * '' Pyankovia'' Akhani & E. H. Roalson, with one species ** ''Pyankovia brachiata'' (Pall.) Akhani & E. H. Roalson

Salsoleae

* ''

Anabasis Anabasis (from Greek ''ana'' = "upward", ''bainein'' = "to step or march") is an expedition from a coastline into the interior of a country. Anabase and Anabasis may also refer to: History * ''Anabasis Alexandri'' (''Anabasis of Alexander''), a ...

'' L. ( incl. ''Fredolia'' (Coss. & Durieu ex Bunge) Ulbr.), with 29 species * '' Arthrophytum'' Schrenk, with 9 species * '' Cornulaca'' Delile, with 5 species * '' Cyathobasis'' Aellen, with one species: ** ''Cyathobasis fruticulosa'' (Bunge) Aellen * '' Girgensohnia'' Bunge ex Fenzl, with 4 species * ''

Halogeton ''Halogeton'' is a plant genus of the family Amaranthaceae. The genus name, ''Halogeton'', derives from the Greek words for "salt" and for "neighbor."Holmgren, Ned A. (2004).''Halogeton''C. A. Meyer" in ''Flora of North America: North of MexicVol ...

'' C. A. Mey, with 5 species. (Syn. ''Agathophora'' (Fenzl) Bunge, ''Micropeplis'' Bunge) * ''

Halothamnus ''Halothamnus'' is a genus in the subfamily Salsoloideae of the family Amaranthaceae (s.l., now including Chenopodiaceae). The scientific name means saltbush, from the Greek ἅλς (''hals'') "salt" and θαμνος (''thamnos'') "bush". This re ...

'' Jaub. & Spach, with 21 species * ''

Haloxylon ''Haloxylon'' is a genus of shrubs or small trees, belonging to the plant family (biology), family Amaranthaceae. ''Haloxylon'' and its species are known by the common name saxaul. According to Dmitry Ushakov, the name borrowed from the Kazakh lan ...

'' Bunge, with 2 species ** ''

Haloxylon ammodendron ''Haloxylon ammodendron'', the saxaul, black saxaul, sometimes sacsaoul or saksaul ( rus, саксау́л, r=saksaúl, which is from kk, сексеуіл, r=seksewil), is a plant belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Description The saxaul ra ...

'' ** ''

Haloxylon persicum ''Haloxylon persicum'', the white saxaul, is a small tree belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its range is Western Asia, including the Palestine (region)#Flora distribution, Palestine region, Egypt, Sinai Peninsula, Sinai, South Iraq, Saudi Ar ...

'' * ''

Hammada A hamada ( ar, حمادة, ) is a type of desert landscape consisting of high, largely barren, hard rocky plateaus, where most of the sand has been removed by deflation. The majority of the Sahara is in fact hamada. Other examples are Negev de ...

'' Iljin, with 12 species * '' Horaninowia'' Fisch. & C. A. Mey, with 6 species * ''

Kali Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...

'' Mill., with 13 species: ** '' Kali turgidum'' Moench (Syn. ''Salsola kali'' subsp. ''kali'') ** ''

Kali tragus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It is known by various common names such as prickly Russian thistle, windwitch, or common saltwort. It is widely known simply as tumbleweed because in many regions of the United State ...

'' (L.) Scop. (Syn. ''Salsola kali'' subsp. ''tragus'') * '' Lagenantha'' Chiov. (Syn.: Gyroptera Botsch.) Classification not sure. With 1-3 species. * ''

Noaea ''Noaea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. It is in the Salsoloideae subfamily. Its native range is from the southern and eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan. It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Crete, Cyprus, ...

'' Moq., with 3 species * '' Nucularia'' Batt., Classification not sure. With one species: ** ''Nucularia perrini'' Batt. * '' Rhaphidophyton'' Iljin, with one species ** ''Rhaphidophyton regelii'' (Bunge) Iljin * ''

'' L., with 25 species. (Syn. ''Darneilla'' Maire & Weiller, ''Fadenia'' Aellen & Townsend, ''Neocaspia'' Tzvelev, ''Hypocylix'' Wol.) * '' Seidlitzia'' Bunge ex Boiss. * '' Sympegma'' Bunge * ''

Traganum ''Traganum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its native range is Macaronesia Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the No ...

'' Del., with 2 species * '' Traganopsis'' Maire et Wilczek, with one species ** ''Traganopsis glomerata'' Maire & Wilczek * ''

Turania Turania is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Latium, located about northeast of Rome and about southeast of Rieti. Turania borders the following municipalities: Carsoli, Collalto Sabino, Collegiove, P ...

'' Akhani & E. H. Roalson, with 4 species * ''

Xylosalsola ''Xylosalsola'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. Its native range is Southern European Russia European Russia (russian: Европейская Россия, russian: европейская часть Ро ...

'' Tzvelev, with 4 species * Classification within

Salsoleae The Salsoloideae are a subfamily of the Amaranthaceae, formerly in family Chenopodiaceae. Description These are herbs, subshrubs, shrubs and some trees. Stems and leaves are often succulent. The ovary contains a spiral embryo. In most genera, ...

unclear: ** "Canarosalsola"-Clade: *** '' Salsola divaricata'' Masson ex Link. ** "Collinosalsola"-Clade: *** ''

Salsola arbusculiformis ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Drob. *** ''

Salsola laricifolia ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Turcz. ex Litw. ** "Oreosalsola"-Clade: *** '' Salsola abrotanoides'' Bunge *** ''

Salsola botschantzevii ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Kurbanov *** '' Salsola flexuosa'' Botsch. *** '' Salsola junatovii'' Botsch. *** '' Salsola lipschitzii'' Botsch. *** ''

Salsola maracandica ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Iljin *** ''

Salsola masenderanica ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Botsch. *** '' Salsola montana'' Litw. *** ''

Salsola oreophila ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Botsch. *** '' Salsola tianschanica'' Botsch. ** Others: *** ''

Salsola genistoides ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. A common name of various members of this genus and ...

'' Juss. ex Poir. *** '' Salsola pachyphylla'' Botsch. *** '' Salsola webbii'' Moq.

Classification in subfamily not sure

* '' Iljinia'' Korovin, with one species: ** ''Iljinia regelii'' (Bunge) Korovin

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q136782 Amaranthaceae Caryophyllales subfamilies