Sarcobatus vermiculatus

A deciduous shrub reaching 2.7 m tall, hardy to UK zone 5. Flowers in July with seeds ripening in September. Dioecious and wind-pollinated, requiring both male and female plants for seed production. Adapts to light, medium, or heavy soils with good drainage, mildly acidic to basic pH, very alkaline and saline conditions; requires full sun and tolerates both drought and moist soil.

Description

A dense spiny shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1.8 m high and spreads 2 m wide. The branches arch over. The wood is hard and yellow. The leaves are narrow and fleshy. They are grey-green and 35 mm long. Male and female flowers are separate on the same plant. The male flowers form catkin like spikes. These are 30 mm long. The calyx of the female flower develops into a leathery fruit. It has a wing towards the middle.

Edible Uses

Young shoots are eaten cooked and used as greens. The young twigs are cut into short pieces and boiled until tender. The seeds, which are about 2mm in diameter, are occasionally consumed, mainly as a food source when other foods are in short supply.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: It can absorb high levels of sodium and potassium making it poisonous. The young tender twigs are cut into short pieces, boiled until tender then served with butter or cream sauce. The seeds are occasionally eaten.

Medicinal Uses

Crushed leaves have been used to treat insect bites. An infusion of the burnt plant has been used to treat diarrhoea and bleeding from the rectum. The wood or roots can be heated until burnt or blackened and then applied to aching or decayed teeth.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to North America. It grows in arid or salty locations. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.

Where It Grows

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Mexico, North America, USA,

Propagation

No specific information is available for this species. Sowing seed in early spring in a cold frame is suggested. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood are worth trying in July/August.

Other Uses

The wood is used for fuel where better materials are unavailable. It is strong and has also been used in general construction.

Notes

There is only one genus in the Sarcobataceae family and 2 Sarcobatus species.

Synonyms

References (11)

• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
• Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 83
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1312
• W. H. Emory, Not. milit. reconn. 149. 1848
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 222