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Spiny
Hopsage
Common
Name(s):
Spiny Hopsage
Applebush
Scientific
Name:
Grayia
spinosa (Hook.) Moq.
Scientific
Name Synonyms:
None known
Symbol:
GRSP
Description:
Life Span: Perennial
Origin:
Native
Season: Evergreen
and deciduous
Growth Characteristics:
Spiny
hopsage is a long-lived, woody, erect, diffusely branched shrub
that reaches 1 to 5 feet in height. Spiny hopsage is evergreen in
the southern deserts and deciduous in the summer in the northern
deserts. It is generally dioecious, although in some populations
monoecious plants are found. Flowers April to July and regenerates
both from wind or gravity-dispersed winged seed and vegetatively
by sprouting after top-killing disturbances such as fire.
Flowers/Inflorescence:
Flowers
are clustered, green, and male and female flowers usually occur
on seperate plants.
Fruits/Seeds:
Fruit is an achene, enclosed in 2 bracts. The bracts are thin, smooth,
greenish-white or reddish, and each having a wing on the back or
midrib.
Leaves: Alternate,
or occasionally occurring in fascicles of two. The blades are spatula
shaped and fleshy, with a gray-green surface. Leaves are ½
to 1 ½ inches long.
Stems: Twigs
are rigid, erect, and white, becoming reddish-pink with white striations
formed by stringy exfoliating bark with maturity. The branches are
divergent and spine-like. The trunk bark can be quite variable,
ranging from smooth and yellowish-white to red and striate. Usually
reddish-gray, exfoliating into thin strips. White striations may
persist.
Ecological
Adaptations:
Spiny
hopsage grows on dry plains, deserts, and foothill slopes at elevations
between 2,000 and 5,500 feet. It is highly tolerant of drought and
fairly tolerant of grazing and fire.
Soils: It
is adapted to alkaline, limestone, gravelly, and dry, heavy, clay
soils. It prefers sandy soils that are free of salt and hardpans.
Associated Species:
Utah
juniper, greasewood, sandberg
bluegrass.
Uses and
Management:
Spiny
hopsage is tolerant of grazing and where abundant is a valuable
browse plant for many species of wildlife and livestock. Spiny hopsage
provides a palatable and nutritious food source for big game and
livestock, particularly during late winter through spring. The fruits
are valuable for fattening sheep. The spines may cause minor injury.
Spiny hopsage readily establishes and increases on overgrazed and
denuded ranges. It is however, being replaced over wide areas by
less palatable species such as green rabbitbrush as a result of
heavy pressure by livestock in the spring and early summer. On ranges
in good condition, the maximum recommended winter use of annual
growth is 80%.
American Indians ground parched seeds to make pinole flour.
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