Tamarix aphylla

Botanical Description

Tamarix aphylla is an upright, evergreen tree or large shrub with drooping twigs and a dense spreading crown with several heavy large limbs; it usually grows 8 - 12 metres tall, but occasional specimens up to 20 metres are recorded. The bole can be 60 - 100cm in diameter[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for food, medicine, tannins and timber which are used locally. It is sometimes grown to provide shelter near the coast and also as an ornamental. Quite an attractive ornamental tree, the thin branches and blue-green leaves give a feather-like appearance and the drooping clusters of delicately coloured inflorescence are attractive, being used to screen farm buildings and for street planting[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ]. Tamarix aphylla is widespread and indeed is recorded as being invasive. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2022)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Tamarix aphylla can produce numerous seeds that can be spread over a wide area by wind and water[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant escapes from cultivation and invades streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, wetlands, moist rangelands, and saline environments[ 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ]. It can spread rapidly, producing jungle-like growth[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. It can crowd out native riparian species, diminish early successional habitat, and reduce water tables and interferes with hydrologic process[ 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ]. This species has spread rapidly and become a very serious weed along several hundred metres of the Finke River in arid central Australia[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]