Flower: Small, inconspicuous greenish or pinkish flowers located at the leaf axils, blooming from late spring to early fall.
Leaves: Thin, spiny, needle-like leaves when young, becoming short and stiff as the plant matures.
Stems: Erect and bushy, often reddish, branching widely and forming a rounded, tumbleweed shape up to 150 cm tall.
Growing Environment: Thrives in arid environments, disturbed areas, roadsides, agricultural fields, and rangelands, particularly in saline or alkaline soils.
Growth Habit: Annual herb that forms bushy, rounded plants which break off at the base when mature, allowing it to tumble and spread seeds across large distances.
Impacts: Highly invasive, particularly in arid regions, where it displaces native plants, reduces forage quality for livestock, and increases fire risk.
Toxicity: Large amounts can cause nitrate poisoning in cattle and sheep.
Photo Credits: freenatureimages.eu - Ed Stikvoort, Peter Meininger, Rutger Barendse
