Skip to main content
Close

Tumbleweed, Russian thistle

Salsola tragus

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

34.1852, -118.669

Field Notes

Description:

Shrub like plant, small flowers, small thorns, painful to touch.

Habitat:

Victory Trailhead

Notes:

I found many bugs attracted to this plant I am very curious to know what it is.

Species ID Suggestions

Tumbleweed, Russian thistle

Salsola tragus

Comments (4)

Congrats! This spotting has been chosen as a PN Fact of the Day! https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10154845679260603/?type=1&notif_t=scheduled_post_published Project Noah Fact of the Day: Mention the word tumbleweed and many people are mentally transported to the old ghost towns of the west. But tumbleweeds can be one of many plant species and occur in many places around the world usually in steppe or arid habitats. According to Wikipedia, "A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of any of a number of species of plants, a diaspore that, once it is mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem, and tumbles away in the wind." Russian thistle is a common tumbleweed of the western U.S. that is not a native of the U.S. but has become naturalized here to the point of being a noxious weed in some areas. It is believed to have been accidentally introduced from Eurasia when it was brought over in some agricultural seeds. Tumbleweed, Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) spotted in California, USA by PN users Ronald and Amissa: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7521178
I think it's amazing that this plant, an icon of the desert Southwest, is actually an introduced weed from Russia!
Thanks! If you ever see this plant, examine it closely because insects love it for some reason
More photos here: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Salsola+tragus
Photographed
PublishedOctober 12, 2011

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon