Tamarix Explained

The genus Tamarix (tamarisk, salt cedar, taray) is composed of about 50–60 species of flowering plants in the family Tamaricaceae, native to drier areas of Eurasia and Africa.[1] The generic name originated in Latin and may refer to the Tamaris River in Hispania Tarraconensis (Spain).

Description

They are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees growing to NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) in height and forming dense thickets. The largest, Tamarix aphylla, is an evergreen tree that can grow to 18m (59feet) tall. They usually grow on saline soils, tolerating up to 15,000 ppm soluble salt, and can also tolerate alkaline conditions.[2]

Tamarisks are characterized by slender branches and grey-green foliage. The bark of young branches is smooth and reddish brown. As the plants age, the bark becomes gray-brown, ridged and furrowed.

The leaves are scale-like, almost like that of junipers,[3] 1–2 mm (1/20" to 1/10") long, and overlap each other along the stem. They are often encrusted with salt secretions.

The pink to white flowers appear in dense masses on 5–10 cm (2" to 4") long spikes at branch tips from March to September,[4] [5] though some species (e.g., T. aphylla) tend to flower in the summer until as late as November.[6]

Ecology

Tamarix aphylla can spread both vegetatively, by submerged stems producing adventitious roots, and sexually, by seeds. Each flower can produce thousands of tiny (1 mm; 1/20" diameter) seeds that are contained in a small capsule usually adorned with a tuft of hair that aids in wind dispersal. Seeds can also be dispersed by water. Seedlings require extended periods of soil saturation for establishment.[7] Tamarisk trees are most often propagated by cuttings.[8]

These trees grow in disturbed and undisturbed streams, waterways, bottom lands, banks, and drainage washes of natural or artificial water bodies, moist rangelands and pastures.

Whether Tamarix species are fire-adapted or not is unclear, but in many cases a large proportion of the trees are able to resprout from the stump after fires, although not notably more so than other riverine species. They likely cannot resprout from root suckers. In some habitats where they are native, wildfire appears to favour the establishment of riverine trees such as Populus, to the detriment of Tamarix. Conversely, they do appear to be more flammable, with more dead wood produced and debris held aloft. In the southwestern USA, most stands studied appear to be burning at faster intervals than they can fully mature and die of natural causes.[9]

Tamarix species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora asthenella which feeds exclusively on T. africana.[10]

Uses

Invasive species

In some specific riparian habitats in the Southwestern United States and California, Tamarix ramosissima has naturalized and become a significant invasive plant species.[9] In other areas, the plants form dense monocultures that alter the natural environment and compete with native species already stressed by human activity.[21] Recent scientific investigations have generally concluded that the primary human-caused impact to desert riparian ecosystems within the Colorado River Basin is the alteration of the flood regime by dams; Tamarix ramosissima is relatively tolerant of this hydrologic alteration compared to flood-dependent native woody riparian species such as willow, cottonwood, and box elder.[22]

Competition with native plants

Research on competition between tamarisk seedlings and co-occurring native trees has found that Tamarix seedlings are not competitive over a range of environments,[23] [24] [25] but stands of mature trees effectively prevent native species' establishment in the understory, due to low light, elevated salinity, and possibly changes to the soil biota.[26] [27] Box elder (Acer negundo, a native riparian tree) seedlings survive and grow under higher-shade conditions than Tamarix seedlings, and mature Tamarix specimens die after 1–2 years of 98% shade, indicating a pathway for successional replacement of Tamarix by box elder.[28] Anthropogenic activities that preferentially favor tamarisk (such as changes to flooding regimens) are associated with infestation.[29] [30] [31] To date, Tamarix has taken over large sections of riparian ecosystems in the western United States that were once home to native cottonwoods and willows,[32] [33] [34] [35] and are projected by some to spread well beyond the current range.[36]

In a 2013 study which examined if native plant growth was hindered by the microbiota associated with the presence of Tamarix, a relatively new invasive plant to the northern United States, Elymus lanceolatus and other native plants in fact grew better when a small soil sample from areas where Tamarix trees grew was mixed in with the potting soil, as opposed to samples without these plants. This was thought to indicate the presence of beneficial mycorrhizae. The presence of Tamarix plants has also been shown to boost soil fertility in a number of studies, and it also increases soil salinity. Two studies found that Tamarix plants are able to limit the recruitment of Salix and Populus tree species, in the latter case possibly due to interfering with the trees ability to form symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in contrast to the grass and legume species studied in 2013.[37]

Because it is much more efficient at both obtaining water from drying soil and conserving water during drought, it can outcompete many native species, especially after the habitat is altered by controlling flood regimes and disturbance of water sources.[21] Because the trees are able to concentrate salts on the outside of their leaves, dense stands of the tree will form a layer of high salinity on the topsoil as the leaves are shed.[21] Although this layer is easily washed off during flooding events, in areas where the rivers are channelled and floods are controlled, this salty layer inhibits the germination of a number of native plants.[9] However, a study involving more than a thousand soil samples across gradients of both flood frequency and Tamarix density concluded that "flooding may be the most important factor for assessing floodplain salinity" and "soils under Tamarix canopies had lower surface soil salinity than open areas deprived of flooding suggesting that surface evaporation may contribute more to surface soil salinity than Tamarix".[38]

Investigation of effects of invasion

Tamarix species are commonly believed to disrupt the structure and stability of North American native plant communities and degrade native wildlife habitat, by outcompeting and replacing native plant species, salinizing soils, monopolizing limited sources of moisture, and increasing the frequency, intensity, and effect of fires and floods . While individual plants may not consume larger quantities of water than native species,[39] [40] large, dense stands of tamarisk do consume more water than equivalent stands of native cottonwoods.[41] An active and ongoing debate exists as to when the tamarisk can out-compete native plants, and if it is actively displacing native plants or it just taking advantage of disturbance by removal of natives by humans and changes in flood regimens.[42] [43] [44] [45] [46]

Controls

Pest populations of tamarisk in the United States can be dealt with in several ways. The National Park Service has used the methods of physically removing the plants, spraying them with herbicides, and introducing northern tamarisk beetles (Diorhabda carinulata) in the national park system. Various attempts to control tamarisk have been implemented on federal lands including Dinosaur National Monument, San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, and White Sands Missile Range.[47] [48] After years of study, the USDA Agricultural Research Service found that the introduced tamarisk beetles (Diorhabda elongata) eat only the tamarisk, and starve when no more is available, not eating any plants native to North America.[49]

Selected species

Formerly placed here

In North America

The tamarisk was introduced to the United States as an ornamental shrub, a windbreak, and a shade tree in the early 19th century. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, tree-planting was used as a tool to fight soil erosion on the Great Plains, and different trees were planted by the millions in the Great Plains Shelterbelt, including salt cedars.[51] [52]

Eight species are found in North America. They can be divided into two subgroups:[7]

Evergreen speciesTamarix aphylla (Athel tree), a large evergreen tree, does not sexually reproduce in the local climate and is not considered a seriously invasive species.[7] The Athel tree is commonly used for windbreaks on the edge of agricultural fields and as a shade tree in the deserts of the Southwestern United States.[53]
Deciduous speciesThe second subgroup contains the deciduous tamarisks, which are small, shrubby trees, commonly known as "saltcedars". These include T. pentandra, T. tetrandra, T. gallica, T. chinensis, T. ramosissima and T. parviflora.[7]

Cultural history

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Baum, Bernard R. (1978), "The Genus Tamarix", The Israel Academy of Science and Humanities
  2. Web site: Dyer . Mary H. . Is Tamarix Invasive: Helpful Tamarix Information . www.gardeningknowhow.com . 6 May 2016 . 22 May 2022 . 29 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129170507/https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tamarix/tamarix-information.htm . live .
  3. .
  4. Web site: Tamarix spp. - Tamarisk, Saltcedar, Salt Cedar - Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants . 16 March 2010 . 2022-05-22 . 2022-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523230239/https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/2434/tamarix-spp-tamarisk/ . live .
  5. Web site: TAMARISK . Southern Living . 22 May 2022 . en . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516183940/https://www.southernliving.com/plants/tamarisk . live .
  6. Web site: Plants of the Bible Tamarix aphylla . www.flowersinisrael.com . 22 May 2022 . 30 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130062427/http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Tamarixaphylla_page.htm . live .
  7. Web site: Invasives Database: Invasive Plants, Tamarix aphylla, Athel tamarisk . Texas Invasive . 2017-12-22 . 2017-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170804235212/http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=TAAP . live .
  8. Book: Huxley . A. . The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening . 1992 . MacMillan Press . London . 0-333-47494-5.
  9. Zouhar, Kris. 2003. Tamarix spp. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  10. Web site: Coleophora asthenella . 12 August 2020 . Plant Parasites of Europe . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030440/https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/coleophoridae/coleophora/coleophora-asthenella/ . live .
  11. Web site: Invasive Species Profile: Tamarisk . Channel Islands Restoration . 3 July 2018 . 31 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214130/https://cirweb.org/blog/2018/7/3/invasive-species-profile-tamarisk . live .
  12. Web site: Tamarisk Shrub . www.best4hedging.co.uk . 31 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215656/https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/tamarisk-hedge-plants-p184 . live .
  13. Everitt . Benjamin . Chronology of the spread of tamarisk in the central Rio Grande . Wetlands . 1998 . 18 . 4 . 658–668 . 10.1007/BF03161680. 1998Wetl...18..658E . 33405892 .
  14. Web site: Sakelliou . Katerina . Salt Cedar Salad - Horta . Katerina's Kouzina . 12 January 2023 . 12 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112032827/https://katerinaskouzina.com/recipe-items/salt-cedar-salad-horta/ . live .
  15. Karpowicz . Adam . Selby . Stephen . 2010 . Scythian Bow From Xinjang . Journal of the Soc. Of Archer-Antiquaries . 53 . 2019-03-01 . 2011-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518165726/http://atarn.org/chinese/Yanghai/Scythian_bow_ATARN.pdf . live .
  16. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=10274 Tamarix aphylla
  17. Web site: Abigail Klein Leichman . November 7, 2011 . Growing forests in the desert . israel21c.org . November 23, 2011 . November 10, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111110101541/http://www.israel21c.org/environment/growing-forests-in-the-desert . live .
  18. Bodenheimer . F.S. . Feb 1947 . The Manna of Sinai . The Biblical Archaeologist . 10 . 1 . 2–6 . 10.2307/3209227 . 3209227 . 165249625 . 2022-01-18 . 2022-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118215400/https://www.jstor.org/stable/3209227 . live .
  19. http://www.ambchine.mu/eng/xwdt/t369657.htm Tree by Tree, China Rolls Back Deserts
  20. http://www.asiawaterwire.net/node/466 Taklamakan – Where Oil and Water Don't Mix
  21. Di Tomaso . Joseph . Impact, Biology, and Ecology of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) in the Southwestern United States . Weed Technology . 1998 . 12 . 2 . 326–336 . 10.1017/S0890037X00043906. 251573113 .
  22. Web site: Wolf, E. . June 6, 2016 . Science driving a new management strategy for Tamarix . October 12, 2021 . October 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028164455/https://watershed.ucdavis.edu/education/classes/files/content/flogs/Wolf2016_Tamarix.pdf . live .
  23. Sher . Anna A.. Anna Sher . Marshall . Diane L. . Gilbert . Steven A. . 2000 . Competition between native Populus deltoides and invasive Tamarix ramosissima and the implications of reestablishing flooding disturbance . Conservation Biology . 14 . 6 . 1744–1754 . 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2000.99306.x. 35701936 . 2000ConBi..14.1744S .
  24. Sher . A.A. . Marshall . D.L. . Taylor . J.P. . June 2002 . Establishment patterns of native Populus and Salix in the presence of invasive, non-native Tamarix . Ecological Applications . 12 . 3 . 760–772 . 10.1890/1051-0761(2002)012[0760:eponpa]2.0.co;2.
  25. Sher . Competition between native and exotic floodplain tree species across water regimes and soil textures . American Journal of Botany . 90 . 2003 . 413–422 . 10.3732/ajb.90.3.413 . 21659134 . A. A. . Marshall . D. L. . 3. free.
  26. Mechanisms associated with decline of woody species in riparian ecosystems of the southwestern U.S . Ecological Monographs . 65 . 1995 . 347–370 . 10.2307/2937064 . Busch, David E. . Smith, Stanley D. . 3 . 2937064. 1995EcoM...65..347B .
  27. Taylor . J. . McDaniel . K. . Restoration of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)-infested floodplains on the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge . Weed Technology . 1998 . 12 . 2 . 345–352 . 10.1017/S0890037X0004392X. 88903153 .
  28. Dewine . J. M. . Cooper . D. J. . April 2008 . Canopy shade and the successional replacement of tamarisk by native box elder . Journal of Applied Ecology . 45 . 2 . 505–514 . 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01440.x . 1365-2664 . free. 2008JApEc..45..505D .
  29. Shafroth . Patrick . Stromberg . Juliet . Patten . Duncan . 2000 . Woody riparian vegetation response to different alluvial water table regimes . Western North American Naturalist . 60 . 66–76 . 2021-03-30 . 2021-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210920181303/https://www.rosemonteis.us/files/references/048768.pdf . live .
  30. Merritt . David M. . Cooper . David J. . 2000 . Riparian vegetation and channel change in response to river regulation: A comparative study of regulated and unregulated streams in the Green River Basin, USA . Regulated Rivers: Research and Management . 16 . 6 . 543–564 . 10.1002/1099-1646(200011/12)16:6<543::AID-RRR590>3.0.CO;2-N.
  31. Horton . J. L. . Kolb . T. E. . Hart . S. C. . 2001 . Responses of riparian trees to interannual variation in ground water depth in a semi-arid river basin . Plant, Cell and Environment . 24 . 3 . 293–304 . 10.1046/j.1365-3040.2001.00681.x . 10.1.1.208.6920.
  32. Christensen . E. M. . The Rate of Naturalization of Tamarix in Utah . American Midland Naturalist . 1962 . 68 . 1 . 51–57 . 10.2307/2422635 . 2422635.
  33. Stromberg . J. C. . Dynamics of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and saltcedar (Tamarix chinesis) populations along the San Pedro River, Arizona . Journal of Arid Environments . 1998 . 40 . 2 . 133–155 . 10.1006/jare.1998.0438 . 1998JArEn..40..133S.
  34. 4 . Zamora-Arroyo F, Nagler PL, Briggs M, Radtke D, Rodriquez H, Garcia J, Valdes C, Huete A, Glenn EP . 2001 . Regeneration of native trees in response to flood releases from the United States into the delta of the Colorado River, Mexico . Journal of Arid Environments . 49 . 1 . 49–64 . 10.1006/jare.2001.0835 . 2001JArEn..49...49Z.
  35. Zavaleta . E. . December 2000 . The economic value of controlling an invasive shrub . Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment . 29 . 8 . 462–467 . 10.1639/0044-7447(2000)029[0462:tevoca]2.0.co;2.
  36. 4 . Morisette JT, Jarnevich CS, Ullah A, Cai W, Pedelty JA, Gentle JE, Stohlgren TJ, Schnase JL . 2006 . A tamarisk habitat suitability map for the continental United States . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment . 4 . 1 . 11–17 . 10.1890/1540-9295(2006)004[0012:ATHSMF]2.0.CO;2.
  37. Lenhoff EA, Menalled FD . 2013 . Impacts of Tamarix-mediated soil changes on restoration plant growth . Applied Vegetation Science . 16 . 3 . 438–447 . 10.1111/avsc.12011 . 2013AppVS..16..438L .
  38. Ohrtman, M. . 2009 . Quantifying soil and groundwater chemistry in areas invaded by Tamarix spp. along the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico . PhD dissertation . University of Denver . 2021-10-15 . 2021-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211022225745/https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/485/ . live .
  39. Anderson . B. W. . Salt cedar, revegetation and riparian ecosystems in the Southwest . Proceedings of the California Exotic Pest Plant Council, Symposium '95. California Exotic Pest Plant Council, Pacific Grove, California . 1996 . 32–41. .
  40. Anderson . B. W. . The case for salt cedar . Restoration and Management Notes . 1998 . 16 . 130–134, 138.
  41. Sala . Anna . Smith . Stanley D. . Devitt . Dale A. . August 1996 . Water Use by Tamarix ramosissima and Associated Phreatophytes in a Mojave Desert Floodplain . Ecological Applications . 6 . 3 . 888–898 . 10.2307/2269492 . 2269492. 1996EcoAp...6..888S .
  42. Cooper . D. . 1999 . Factors Controlling the Establishment of Fremont Cottonwood Seedlings on the Upper Green River, USA . Regulated Rivers: Research & Management . 15 . 5 . 419–440 . 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1646(199909/10)15:5<419::AID-RRR555>3.0.CO;2-Y . Merritt . David M. . Andersen . Douglas C. . Chimner . Rodney A. . 10.1.1.208.7367.
  43. Cooper . D. . Multiple pathways for woody plant establishment on floodplains at local to regional scales . Journal of Ecology . 2003 . 91 . 2 . 182–196 . 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2003.00766.x . Andersen . Douglas C. . Chimner . Rodney A. . free. 2003JEcol..91..182C .
  44. Everitt . B. L. . Ecology of saltcedar - a plea for research . Environmental Geology . 1980 . 3 . 2 . 77–84 . 10.1007/BF02473474 . 1980EnGeo...3...77E . 128624735.
  45. Everitt . B. L. . Chronology of the spread of Tamarisk in the central Rio Grande . Wetlands . 1998 . 18 . 4 . 658–668 . 10.1007/BF03161680 . 1998Wetl...18..658E . 33405892.
  46. Stromberg . J. C. . Functional equivalency of saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) and Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) along a free-flowing river . Wetlands . 18 . 1998 . 4 . 675–686 . 10.1007/BF03161682 . 1998Wetl...18..675S . 6443419.
  47. Adams . Aaron . Treating Invasive Tamarisk as an Intern at San Andres National Wildlife Refuge . The Geographical Bulletin . 2021 . 62 . 2 . 101–103 . 23 March 2022 . 2 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302193602/https://gammathetaupsilon.org/the-geographical-bulletin/2020s/volume62-2/B/article3.pdf . live .
  48. Our newest weed warriors . 8 January 2009 . . . 31 August 2009 . 6 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111800/https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/upload/2009BeetleWeb.pdf . live . — describes saltcedar controls, incl. 2006–2007 release of tamarisk beetles into Dinosaur National Monument.
  49. Tracy . J.L. . Robbins . T.O. . 2009 . Taxonomic revision and biogeography of the Tamarix-feeding Diorhabda elongata species group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Galerucini) and analysis of their potential in biological control of Tamarisk . Zootaxa . 2101 . 1–152 . 10.11646/zootaxa.2101.1.1 . 2010-06-10 . 2012-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306100548/http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/zt02101p152.pdf . live .
  50. Web site: GRIN Species Records of Tamarix . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2011-02-18 . 2015-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075427/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?11855 . live .
  51. News: Kirk . Johnson . War With Riverbank Invader, Waged by Muscle and Munching . . December 26, 2008 . 2008-12-27 . 2023-03-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302193627/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/us/27tamarisk.html?hp . live .
  52. Web site: Saltcedar_USDA National Agricultural Library . 2019-08-21 . 2019-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190821110235/https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/profile/saltcedar . live .
  53. Sharma, U., Kataria, V., & Shekhawat, N. S. (2017) Aeroponics for adventitious rhizogenesis in evergreen haloxeric tree Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst.: influence of exogenous auxins and cutting type. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 24(1):167–174 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-017-0493-0
  54. Book: Jiménez, Enrique . The Babylonian disputation poems . 2017 . Brill . 978-90-04-33625-4 . 23–28.
  55. The KJV has the word "grove", but the NKJV has "tamarisk". The Hebrew word is different from that translated as "grove" elsewhere in the KJV Old Testament.
  56. Tyndale New Living Translation.
  57. Web site: Wedgwood, Tamarisk . Replacements, Ltd. . 31 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214701/https://www.replacements.com/china-wedgwood-tamarisk/c/114437 . live .