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small-flower tamarisk, tamarisk

tamarisk family, tamarix family

Habit Shrubs or trees, to 5 m. Leaves: blade lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm. Shrubs or trees [subshrubs], usually halophytes, rheophytes, or xerophytes.
Leaves

alternate, scalelike [subulate], small;

stipules absent.

Inflorescences

1.5–4 cm × 3–5 mm;

bract exceeding pedicel, not reaching calyx tip.

simple or compound racemes usually equal or more in number to petals, distinct [connate basally or fasciculate], often attached to fleshy nectar disc;

pistil (2–)3–4(–5)-carpellate;

ovary 1-locular, sometimes almost plurilocular, ovules 2+ per placenta, anatropous, bitegmic;

placentation parietal, basal, or parietal-basal;

styles [2–]3–4[–5] [absent, stigmas sessile].

Flowers

4-merous;

sepals 1–1.5 mm, margins entire or denticulate;

petals oblong to ovate, 2 mm; antisepalous stamens 4, filaments confluent with nectar disc lobes, all originating from edge of disc.

Fruits

capsular, dehiscence loculicidal.

Seeds

comose at one end [hairy overall];

embryo straight;

endosperm absent [scanty, starchy]; thin perisperm often present.

2n

= 24.

Tamarix parviflora

Tamaricaceae

Phenology Flowering early spring–early summer.
Habitat Riverways, lakeshores
Elevation 0–1500 m (0–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; KS; MS; NC; NM; NV; OK; OR; TX; UT; WA; s Europe; n Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico (Baja California), South America (Argentina), Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Europe; Asia; Africa; especially from Mediterranean to c Asia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

The name Tamarix tetrandra Pallas has been misapplied to T. parviflora.

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

Genera 4, species ca. 78 (1 genus, 8 species in the flora).

Tamaricaceae have traditionally been placed in the Violales, but recent analyses of molecular sequence data place the family within the Caryophyllales of the core eudicots. Frankeniaceae has retained its place as sister family to Tamaricaceae, sharing similarities in many characters, including secondary chemistry and salt gland structure.

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

Source FNA vol. 6, p. 416. FNA vol. 6, p. 413. Author: John F. Gaskin.
Parent taxa Tamaricaceae > Tamarix
Sibling taxa
T. africana, T. aphylla, T. canariensis, T. chinensis, T. gallica, T. ramosissima, T. tetragyna
Subordinate taxa
Name authority de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 3: 97. (1828) Link
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