Halimodendron

Short description: Genus of legumes

Halimodendron

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  |

Plantae

(unranked):  |

Angiosperms

(unranked):  |

Eudicots

(unranked):  |

Rosids

Order:  |

Fabales

Family:  |

Fabaceae

Subfamily:  |

Faboideae

Tribe:  |

Hedysareae

Genus:  |

Halimodendron

Fisch. ex DC.

Species:  |

H. halodendron

Binomial name
Halimodendron halodendron

(Pall.) Voss.

Halimodendron is a monotypic genus of legume containing the single species Halimodendron halodendron, which is known by several common names, including common salt tree and Russian salt tree. It is closely related to the genus Caragana.[1] It is native to Russia and southern Asia, but it can be found on other continents where it is an introduced species, and one that is often a noxious weed. This is a deciduous spiny shrub sprawling to a few meters in maximum width and up to three meters tall. Stems branch from the base and bear clusters of about four leaflets on sharp spurs. The ends of branches narrow to spines. Flowers also appear at the ends of spurs in clusters of two to four pink pealike blossoms each one to two centimeters wide. The fruit is a black woody inflated pod about 2 centimeters long containing legume seeds. The plant has a deep and wide root system, with the lateral roots sending up new shoots. In this manner the plant forms extensive thickets. When introduced to an area of suitable climate, such as California where it is a known weed, it can invade cultivated land and spread relatively quickly. It is tolerant of saline soils.

## References

1. ↑ "Phylogeny of Caragana (Fabaceae) based on DNA sequence data from rbcL, trnS–trnG, and ITS.". Mol Phylogenet Evol 50 (3): 547–59. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.12.001. PMID 19100848.

## External links

* Jepson Manual Treatment
* USDA Plants Profile
* California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Weed Profile
* Photo gallery

Wikidata ☰ Q861520 entry

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