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athel, athel tamarisk, saltcedar, tamarisk, tamarix

African tamarisk

Habit Trees, to 10+ m. Shrubs or trees, to 5 m.
Leaves

sheathing;

blade abruptly pointed, 2 mm.

blade lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm.

Inflorescences

3–6 cm × 4–5 mm;

bract exceeding pedicel, not reaching calyx tip.

3–7 cm × 5–9 mm;

bract exceeding pedicel, rarely exceeding calyx tip.

Flowers

5-merous;

sepals 1–1.5 mm, margins entire;

petals oblong to elliptic, 2–2.5 mm; antisepalous stamens 5, filaments alternate with nectar disc lobes, all originating from edge of disc.

5-merous;

sepals 1.5 mm, margins subentire;

petals ovate, 2–3 mm; antisepalous stamens 5, filaments confluent with nectar disc lobes, all originating from edge of disc.

2n

= 24.

= 24.

Tamarix aphylla

Tamarix africana

Phenology Flowering late summer–early winter. Flowering spring–late summer.
Habitat Lakeshores, riverways, sandy soil Ocean shorelines, riverways, waste areas, sandy soil
Elevation 0–600 m (0–2000 ft) 0–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV; TX; UT; sw Asia; n Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico (Baja California, Coahuila), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
LA; SC; TX; VA; s Europe; n Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in w Europe (England)]
Discussion

Tamarix aphylla forms hybrids (rarely) with T. ramosissima and T. chinensis.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 6, p. 416. FNA vol. 6, p. 415.
Parent taxa Tamaricaceae > Tamarix Tamaricaceae > Tamarix
Sibling taxa
T. africana, T. canariensis, T. chinensis, T. gallica, T. parviflora, T. ramosissima, T. tetragyna
T. aphylla, T. canariensis, T. chinensis, T. gallica, T. parviflora, T. ramosissima, T. tetragyna
Synonyms Thuja aphylla
Name authority (Linnaeus) H. Karsten: Deut. Fl., 641. (1882) Poiret: Voy. Barbarie 2: 139. (1789)
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