Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Russian Thistle - Salsola tragus   L.
Members of Chenopodiaceae:
Members of Salsola with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 6 » Order Caryophyllales » Family Chenopodiaceae
AuthorL.
DistributionFormerly included within Salsola kali, but split out in FNA (2003), Weakley (2018), and other recent texts. RAB (1968) indicate its presence in Franklin County; however, to date no verified specimens have been seen from NC.

Native of Eurasia; across much of N.A., mostly inland (and not a coastal dune species like the others in the genus).
AbundanceVery rare, if confirmed as occurring in NC.
HabitatDisturbed places, presumably sand ones.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting June-frost.
IdentificationWeakley (2018) says this species is not fleshy, at least in fresh material; the other Salsola taxa are quite fleshy/succulent. In addition, the leaf blades are extremely narrow (less than 1 mm wide), and the leaves have only a weak apical spine. These essentially filiform leaves with no obvious spines impart a much different look from the other taxa.
Taxonomic CommentsSome older references included all Salsola taxa within Salsola kali.

Other Common Name(s)Prickly Russian Thistle
State RankSE
Global RankGNR
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