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Halogeton
Common
Name(s):
Halogeton
Saltlover
Scientific
Name:
Halogeton
glomeratus (Bieb.) C.A. Mey.
Scientific
Name Synonyms:
None known
Symbol:
HAGL
Description:
Life
Span: Summer
annual
Origin:
Introduced
Season: Warm
Growth Characteristics:
A
small forb, growing 3 to 12 inches in height. Stems red when young,
turning yellow to white with maturity. Stems are branched from base,
spreading first, and then growing vertical. Flowers July to September,
and reproduces from seeds.
Flowers/Inflorescence:
Small
and inconspicuous, in leaf axils. Can be unisexual or complete.
Fruits/Seeds:Reproduces
from two types of seed: A black seed, with yellowish or reddish
fan-like wings and similar to a snail coil, and a brown wingless
seed. The black seed germinates quickly, and the brown seed has
delayed germination. Seeds are often very numerous, forming a mass
from the ground to the tip of the leaves. Brown seeds can remain
viable in the soil for 10 years or more.
Leaves: Alternate,
simple, fleshy and tubular. Leaves bluish-green. Has a small hair
at the end of the leaves. Leaves resemble a small sausage with a
sharp point.
Ecological
Adaptations:
Halogeton
has become common in dry deserts, barren areas, overgrazed prairies,
roadsides, and other disturbed areas where native vegetation has
been removed. Dense stands are found on burned-over areas, overgrazed
ranges, dry lakebeds, roadsides, and abandoned dry farms.
Soils: Especially
abundant in alkaline or saline soils.
Associated Species:
Sagebrush,
rabbitbrush, cheatgrass,
shadscale, greasewood.
Uses and
Management:
Halogeton
was introduced into North America as late as 1930 and has rapidly
spread becoming a serious weed on rangeland. It cannot compete with
desirable forage. Forage value is poor to fair for both cattle and
sheep. It provides useable forage only when mixed in small quantities
with other forage plants. It is poisonous, and sheep are the most
susceptible. It contains toxic amounts of sodium, potassium, and
calcium oxalates. Signs of poisoning include: depression, weakness,
reluctance to move, drooling, coma, and death. The first signs of
poisoning occur 2 to 6 hours after an animal ingests a fatal amount,
and death occurs in 9 to 11 hours.
Halogeton cannot compete with healthy range plants. Therefore, control
involves keeping a healthy cover of desirable forage plants.
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