Semi-desert. Shrublands. Summer, fall.
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, October 9, 2007.

These are the flowers of the massive, invasive Tumble Weed that we see blowing across roads and piling up against fences in the West.  Stems are stout and when the plant dries and tears off at the base of its central stem, the stems support the plant as it tumbles along spreading its seeds.  The plant was, according to A Utah Flora, introduced to South Dakota in 1873 from Russia in a load of Flax seed.  The mature plants tumbled quickly through the West invading millions of acres.  Salsola australis makes for many ecological problems but does provide decent winter food for cattle and it makes a darn good song.  Click to hear some of the song.

Linnaeus named this species and the genus in 1755.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Summer, fall.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, September 26, 2005.

This species is most common in the Great Basin area and is occasionally found in the western counties of Colorado and New Mexico and in the northern counties of Arizona.  

Salsola paulsenii was named by Litvinov in 1905.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Summer, fall.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, September 26, 2005.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Salsola australis (Salsola tragus)

Range map for Salsola paulsenii