Tamarix ramosissima
(Salt Cedar)
Tamarix ramosissima, Upper Prong Trail, Caprock Canyons State Park 9236
Tamarix ramosissima, Along Hwy 170, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3898
Tamarix ramosissima, Along Hwy 170, Big Bend Ranch State Park 3897
| Scientific Name | Tamarix ramosissima | USDA PLANTS Symbol | TARA |
| Common Name | Salt Cedar | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 22310 |
| Family | Tamaricaceae (Tamarix) | Texas Invasives Reference | Click Here |
| Description | Habitat: Sandy soils along streams, salt flats and waste areas. Introduced from Eurasia. Plant: Spreading deciduous shrubs or small trees, 5 to 20 feet tall, with numerous slender, spreading branches; reddish-brown bark. Leaves: Small, scale-like blades, alternate, lanceolate, 1/8-inch long or less, sessile. Inflorescence: Small, pale pink to white flowers arranged in spike-like racemes 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long; flowers with 5 very small petals about 1/16-inch long or less and 5 sepals, wuth irregular edges. Bloom Period: Early spring to late fall. References: Texas Invasives, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and Flora of North America. Note: Some authorities consider T. ramosissimus to be synomynous with T chinensis. From the literature, one obvious difference is that the bark of the former is reddish-brown and the latter, brown to blackish-purple. |
BONAP Distribution Map N/A See USDA Plants |
Texas Status: Introduced INVASIVE |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024