Tamarix hispida (tam’-a-riks his’-pa-da)
Family: Tamaricaceae, Tamarix spp.

Key Steps

• 1b – Alternate leaf arrangement — go to 18
  • 18a – Leaf simple — go to 19
    • 19b – Thornless — go to 22
      • 22a – Leaves extremely small (less than 1/4 inch long), almost scale-like — Salt Cedar

Description

Leaf: Alternate, small, scale-like and slightly hairy, deciduous. No petiole. Leaf clasps stem at leaf base. Foliage is juniper-like but deciduous.

Bud: Small, sessile, rounded, compressed against stem, solitary, 3 exposed scales.

Leaf Scar: Very tiny, barely visible.

Stem: Slender, elongated, round.

Pith: Small, round, solid. Situated off-center within the stem.

Flower: Perfect, rosy pink, dense, slender 1-3 inch long racemes which form large terminal panicles.

Fruit: Capsules, cylindrical clusters.

Habit: To 18 feet tall. Wispy, very fine texture. Deciduous and bare in winter.

Culture: Noxious weed. Extremely invasive in riparian areas.

Resources

• Identifying Broadleaf Flowering Trees and Shrubs, CMG GardenNotes #173
• List of trees in this key
• Glossary of Terms
• Front Range Tree Recommendation List
• Online CSU Extension publications on Tree and Shrub Selection