There is another growth that begins now to make it's appearance in the bottom lands and is becoming extremely troublesome; it is a shrub which rises to the hight of from two to four feet, much branched, the bark of the trunk somewhat rough hard and of light grey colour; the wood is firm and stif, the branches beset with a great number of long, shap, strong, wooddy looking thorns; the leaf is about ¾ or an inch long, and an inch wide, it is obtuse, absolutely entire, veinless fleshy and gibbose; has no perceptible taste or smell, and no anamal appears to eat it. By way of designating when I mention it hereafter I shall call it the fleshey leafed thorn.

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Greasewood)
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring, summer.
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, April 6, 2005.

Sarcobatus vermiculatus is a tall, spreading shrub found in abundance throughout the lower elevations of the Four Corners area.  Its leaves are a rich green and somewhat succulent (the Greek "sarco"); older stems are dark, younger are quite light; and spines abound.  Male and female flowers are separate but found on each bush (thus it is called "monoecious").  The plant is very common in the Four Corners area and often is found in extensive stands on hot and dry areas on dense soils.

The Greek "batos" means "a bramble" and "vermiculatus" is Latin for "worm eaten". 

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Greasewood)
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring, summer.
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, April 6, 2005.

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Greasewood)
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring, summer.
Near the Gunnison River, May 22, 2007.

Female flowers are enclosed in cone-like formations.  Male flowers are fewer and on the same shrub.

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Greasewood)
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring, summer.
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, October 8, 2007.

Fall seed pods.