TAMARIX: “Salt Cedar”

TAMARIX: Angiosperm!

TAMARIX: Origins in North America

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

• Originated from Southern Europe and Mediterranean

• Sold by Bartram’s Nursery in Philadelphia (1823)

TAMARIX: For Sale in Western Nurseries (1858)

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

• Ornamentals

• Shade

• Windbreaks

• Stream Stabilization

T. aphylla

T. chinensis

T. ramosissima

T. gallica

TAMARIX: Six Species grown in USDA Arboretum (1868)

T. parvifloraDi Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

TAMARIX: Escapes from Cultivation

Occasional (1870s) Extensive (1920s)Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

TAMARIX: Extent Across United States

4,000 ha (1920s)

362,000 ha (1960s)

540,000 ha (1970s)

600,000 ha (1980s)

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

(1900 through 1960s)TAMARIX: Impacts on Southwestern Riparian Habitats

• Land Clearing (Agriculture)• Livestock Grazing• Trapping of Beaver• Tree Cutting• Groundwater Depletion• Stream Diversion for Irrigation• Building of Reservoirs• Stream Channelization• Recreational Impacts

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

TAMARIX: Biology and EcologyCopious Wind and Water Dispersed Tufted Seeds

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

•Seed Viability Low (3-4 Weeks in the Wild)

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

• Seed Germination almost immediate upon contact with Moist Soil

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

• Extensive Vegetative Growth from stem and root suckers

• Can respond to sedimentation by layering of adventitious roots

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

Facultative HalophyteLeaves Secrete Salt

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

Cold Tolerance

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

Facultative Phreatophyte

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

Flood and Drought Tolerance

TAMARIX: Biology and Ecology

Fire Tolerance (Long-lived Resprouts after Fire)

Busch, D.E. 1995. Effects of fire on southwestern riparian plant community structure. Southwestern Naturalist 40:259-267

(Superior to Salix gooddingii, Populus fremontii)

TAMARIX: Biology and EcologyCompetitive Advantage over Salix and Populus

• Greater tolerance to water stress and salinity

• Facultative Phreatophyte: Ability to tolerate drawdowns and drought

• Superior Regrowth after Fire

Smith, S.D. et al. 1998. Water relations of riparian plants from desert regions.Wetlands 18:687-696

TAMARIX: Water UseWater Table Use: Case Study in New Mexico (1957, 1961)

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

•Tamarix would consumes 180-1310 mm of precipitation,

•Excess of available precipitation inputs to water budgets in most NM areas

TAMARIX: Water Table Use

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

Dependent on Site Elevation and Water-Table Depth

TAMARIX: Water Use“High Evapotranspiration Rates can Lower the Water Table..”

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, Biology and Ecology of Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12:326-336

(**Controversial)

TAMARIX: Wildlife Use

Shafroth et al. 2005. Control of Tamarix in the western United States: implications for water salvage, wildlife use, and riparian restoration. Environmental Management 35:231-246

Herpetofauna abundance, Diversity depressed in southwest

Avian Overall Use High, but(Some Breeding Species don’toccur in Salt Cedar)

Hunter et al. 1988. Use of exoticsalt cedar (Tamarix chinensis) by birds in arid riparian systems.The Condor 90:113-123

TAMARIX: Control

TAMARIX: Control

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

(Mechanical)

• Shredding (Brush Mowing)• Roller Chopping (Weighted Drum fitted with Blades)• Chaining• Grubbing/Plowing

Effective if Repeated and Accompanied by Vegetation Replacement

TAMARIX: Control

(Chemical)2, 4 – D• Can produce Mortality• Poor translocation to regrowth tissues

Glyphosate• Unpublished results indicate effective• Marketed towards agricultural industry; tests discontinued

Imazapyr• 80-90% Immediate Mortality (NMSU study)• Long-range effects need to be determined

Brock, J.H. 1994. Tamarix spp. (Salt Cedar), an Invasive Exotic Woody Plant in Arid and Semi-arid Riparian Habitats of Western USA. Ecology and Management of Invasive Riverside Plants

TAMARIX: Control

(Biocontrol)

Beetle: Diorhabda elongata

Lewis, P.A. et al. 2003. Assessment of risk to native Frankenia shrubs from an Asian leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata deserticola (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), introduced for biological control of saltcedars (Tamarix spp.) in the western United States. Biological Control 27:101-116

Target Species: Tamarix

Non-Target Species: Frankenia