Salsola ryanii

Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Tumbleweed ryanii is a naturalized annual found in the southern Sacramento Valley, southern San Joaquin Valley, and southern Coast Ranges in disturbed places at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small white to green flowers with translucent margins and sharp-pointed sepals. Growing to nearly 2 meters tall with a rounded, loosely branched form, it develops longitudinally ribbed stems that are occasionally red-striped. Its leaves transition from opposite to alternate, becoming rigid with wider bases and sharp-pointed or spiny tips that are leathery in texture. The distinctive fruit features five wings with smooth to unevenly scalloped margins, with the smallest wing shaped like a spoon.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places

Bloom period: Jun-Oct

Elevation: < 350(800) m

Bioregions: ScV, s SnJV, SCoRI.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.