Sarcobatus vermiculatus

Sarcobatus vermiculatus, or greasewood, is a flowering deciduous perennial shrub native to the western United States. From Canada and all the way to Mexico and as far East as the Dakotas greasewood can be found in arid areas. Sarcobatus grows anywhere from 2000 to 8500 feet above sea level. It is 1 to 2 meters tall and is considered an invasive weed. Its name comes from the Greek “sarko” meaning flesh, and “betos” meaning thorn. This is in reference to its succulent leaves and spiny branches.

Its long taproot makes it very drought tolerant. However it also has a shallow root system to collect water near the surface of the soil. Greasewood is able to grow in alkaline or saline soils, another characteristic of plants from arid habitats. Greasewood is also able to survive fire. Seeds are wind-dispersed and help to re-establish the plants after fire. Greasewood is a C3 photosynthesis plant.

http://www.explorenm.com/plants/Chenopodiaceae/Sarcobatus/vermiculatus/
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Sarcobatus+vermiculatus
http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/oct/papr/gwood.html
http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/classes/range/sarcobatus.html
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/ecol438/sarcobatus.html

Andrew Bergeson, Fall 2007