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UNIVERSITY <br /> OF ' ' COOPERATivEEXTENSION <br /> Bringing the Universito to You <br /> Fact Sheet FS-02-93 <br /> 4 (Replaces Fact Sheet FS 95-15) <br /> Managing Saltcedar <br /> Wayne Johnson,Associate Professor,Department of Applied Economics and Statistics and <br /> State Horticulture Specialist,University of Nevada Cooperative Extension <br /> Jason Davison,Northeast-Central Area Specialist,University of Nevada Cooperative Extension <br /> James Young,Range Scientist, USDA Agricultural Research Service <br /> Tina Kadrmas,Undergraduate Research Assistant,University of Nevada,Reno <br /> Saltcedars (Tamarix chinensis, T ramosissima, and <br /> T.parvifolia) are invasive, shrubby trees that are <br /> rapidly colonizing riparian areas in.Nevada. Tamarix <br /> ramosissima is the principle invader. They were <br /> introduced into the United States in the early 1800's as <br /> ornamentals and to prevent soil erosion along streams. <br /> These trees have escaped cultivation and are spreading <br /> rapidly throughout the desert southwest,Rocky - <br /> Mountains and Great Basin. A fourth species,Athel <br /> (T. aphylla)is a very tall single-trunked,evergreen that <br /> is invasive in Southern Nevada. Less hardy than the <br /> others,it grows in Clark and southern Nye Counties. Figure 1. Wispy saltcedar limbs in bloom. <br /> In Nevada, saltcedar occupies Baltic rush meadows <br /> along the Walker River, saltgrass communities or produces seeds over the entire summer as long as soil <br /> former croplands at Stillwater and the Humboldt Sink, moisture is available. Spring-produced saltcedar seed <br /> and arroyos in the upper pinyon/juniper zone of the has near 100 percent germination over a wide range of <br /> Stillwater Range at Fence Maker Pass. The Colorado, constant or alternating temperatures. Seed produced <br /> Muddy and Virgin Rivers are heavily infested in later has less viability. Each plant can produce <br /> southern Nevada. Native plant communities 500,000 or more seeds. One hundred seeds per square <br /> surrounding springs,seeps, streams and lakes are also inch have been produced within a saltcedar forest. <br /> threatened. Even isolated arroyos are being occupied Once wetted, embedded in soil or not,saltcedar seeds <br /> by saltcedar throughout Nevada. germinate in 24 hours. If the soil dries rapidly,the <br /> seedlings die. For establishment,the soil must dry <br /> DESCRIPTION AND HABITAT slowly enough for the roots to grow into moisture <br /> Saltcedar(T. ramosissima)is a deciduous shrub or deeper in the soil profile. <br /> small tree that grows 20 to 25 feet tall. Its gray-green Saltcedar also reproduces vegetatively from the <br /> leaves and wispy limbs give it a feathery appearance. stems,crown and roots. New growth occurs readily <br /> The striking, small,pink to white flowers cover the when young plants are grazed or mowed,or the trunk <br /> upper branches in spring with occasional sparse or shoots are removed or killed by fire or severe <br /> flowering over the season(Fig. 1). It profusely drought. <br /> produces tiny seeds each year that are spread by wind, Saltcedar uses more water than native cottonwoods, <br /> water and animals. poplars and willows. It grows best in riparian sites <br /> Unlike native willows and cottonwoods that such as stream banks,saline meadows, seasonally <br /> produce seeds for a short period in the spring, saltcedar saturated washes, and lands that have seasonally high <br />