Salsola kali L.

Locations ofSalsola kali L. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Chenopodiaceae
Botanical Name
Salsola kali L.
Common Name
Saltwort
Synonym(s)
Salsola kali L. var. kali; Salsola kali L. ssp. kali; Salsola kali L. var. caroliniana (Walt.) Nutt.; Salsola kali L. ssp. pontica (Pall.) Moyakin
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Salsola kali L.
Comments
Although most sources say Salsola kali is introduced to our area, Weakley et al. (2023) says it may well be native. The vast majority of Virginia material appears to match var. kali. However, FNA (citing 1996 Annals of the Missouri Bot. Garden 83:389., which lists Va. on p. 390) maps ssp. pontica (Pallas) Mosyakin (= Salsola kali var. caroliniana) in Virginia as well. Only one unequivocal specimen of the latter has been seen (Harvill s.n. at NCU), but "intermediate or deviant" plants transitional between the ssp. also occur. In addition, many Virginia herbarium specimens are identified only to species and need critical re-evaluation. Because of this range-wide tendency to produce intermediates, and disagreements in literature about which taxon or taxa are actually present in Virginia, we are treating S. kali at the species level. Further study is needed.
Habitat
Upper beaches, overwash flats, low dunes, and disturbed tidal shores. Locally frequent in the outer Coastal Plain maritime zone (including the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay); rare along tidal reaches of the Potomac River.
Native Status
Not Specified

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