Tamarix ramosissima L.Family: Tamaricaceae

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Carinna RobertsonDepartment of Natural Resources and Environmental Science

Forest and Rangeland Management

Many names of:Tamarix ramosissima L.

• Common names:– tamarisk– saltcedar – French tamarisk – small-flowered

tamarisk

• Scientific Names:– Tamarix

pentandra– Tamarix chinensis – Tamarix gallica – Tamarix parviflora – Tamarix tetrandra

Plant Characteristics:

• Growth Form: - Perennial/Dicots

- Tree - < 12m - Shrub - 1.5-5m • Root Growth:

- branching lateral root system - phreatophytes• Flowering:

- light to dark pink flowers- bloom from April to October w/ one large seeding peak, but has continued seeding throughout the season- 4-5 sepals- 3-5 styles- stamens located on a fleshy lobed disk

• Fruit- 3-5 valve capsule

• Reproduction: -Resprout

- Seeds - often produced in 1st year - small - light - tuff hair- Wind dispersed - Deposited via water or animals

• Germination:- High youth viability - approx. 5 weeks- Once settling has occurred germination will occur within 24hrs.- However, germination can occur in water

http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Image:Tamarisk-3.jpg

Plant Characteristic Cont.-

• Seedling Establishment and Survival

- Need saturated soil for first few weeks- High sunlight- No competing vegetation

• Mortality- If soil dries for 1 day then seedling will not survive- High water flow velocities can cause uprooting up to several months after germination

http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Image:Tamarisk-3.jpg

First Stages of Development:

Ecological Characteristics:

• Soils -Tolerant of high saline soils (6mgL⁻ to 15mgL⁻)- Typically sands

• Allelopathy - Leaves release high salt concentrations - Which deposit below the Tamarix and create a hard crust

• Competition:• Favorable Competitive

Characteristics:- High plasticity and adaptability- High endurance- High drought tolerance - High temperature tolerant (xeric regions)- High salt tolerance- The combined effect of hard crust and being able to access a lower water table makes Tamarix a more sufficient competitor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarisk

Geographic Distribution:

-Native Origin: -Southern Europe -North Africa/South Africa -Middle East -South Asia -China -Japan-Habitat Type: - Moist Spots in Desert Regions

Non-Native Invaded range:

http://plants.usda.gov

Introduction:- First introduced in early 1800’s as ornamentals, windbreaks, shade, erosion control and stream bank stabilization, and as source of wood-Naturalized by 1877- By 1920’s problem was realized- Control efforts started by 1960’sDistribution:- Tamarix spp. is considered a noxious weed and has infested ~36 states- 1920’s ~ 4,000 ha - 2008~ 400,000-600,000 haFavorable Habitats - Saline soils in xeric environments - Variety of stream and riverbanks

Ecological, Economical and Social Impacts:

Ecological:• Decreases Native

Species and Habitat Diversity

• Inhibits Native Phreatophytes

• Forms Monoculture Communities

• Reduces the Water Table the Longer the Invasion

• Creates a Saline Environment

Economical:• Reduces Water Supplies• Reduces Recreation• Reduces Agricultural

Uses• Increases flooding• Reduces wildlife

diversity• Reduces Transpiration • Reduce Soil Quality

Social:

• Health and Safety • How we perceive and appreciate the environment• spend our time

Benefits of Tamarisk to the Surrounding Habitat:

• stabilizes stream and river banks • constitutes half the diet of beavers• provides habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii

extimus) and the white-winged dove • aesthetically attractive• honey bees favor the flowers• woodrats (Neotoma spp.) and the desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

forage adult Tamarix

http://www.discovermoab.com

Control Methods and Strategies:

http://www.fsu.edu

Biological Control Method:

-Leaf Beetle: Diorhabda elongata - Used to defoliate Tamarix spp. - Successful, but how will beetles effect other aspects? -restructure or eliminate tamarisk patches - vary regionally - effect native species

James Tracy - USDA-ARS, Temple Texas, Bob Richard - USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Dan Bean-CDA Palisade Insectary, and Tim Carlson - Tamarisk Coalition.

James Tracy - USDA-ARS, Temple Texas, Bob Richard - USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Dan Bean-CDA Palisade Insectary, and Tim Carlson - Tamarisk Coalition.

Control Methods and Strategies Cont’d:

http://www.fsu.edu

Grazing:-Cattle will sometimes eat young tamarisk shrubs -Goats may eat the regrowth of tamarisk -However, grazing is not a primary control method - Animals prefer higher valued forage

Mechanical Methods:-Many unsuccessful because Tamarix spp. ability to resprout- Root plowing to 35-60 cm can be effective, but destroy other vegetation

Fire: Successful- Ideal time for best rates - Kills tamarisk during hot summers and drought- Need to re-apply for 3-4 years to fully kill - Often need to combine methods- A lot of implementation factors involved

Control Methods and Strategies Cont’d:

Herbicide: -New Mexico - Sprayed Arsenal (imazapyr )provided 90-99% control at a cost of $85/acre - Mix of Arsenal + Round-up (glyphosphate) provided 90-99% control at a cost of $60/acre - Tebuthiuron is also approved for foliar treatments-California - Garlon 4 (triclopyr) and Round-up (glyphosphate)

Conclusions:

• Removal and restoration of Tamarix spp. infested areas should be of primary concern

• Funds and support needs to be in place to proceed• Consideration should be taken to acknowledge the side-

effects of each control method• Ultimately, I think biological control methods are more

favorable, but the side-effect must be known and understood

-Hughes Lee E. 1993. “The Devil’s Own”-Tamarisk. Rangelands 15(4):151-155.-McDaniel Kirk C. and J.P. Taylor.2003.Saltcedar recovery after herbicide-burn mechanical clearing practices. J. Range Management 56:439-445.-Daoyuan Zhang,Y. Linke and P. Borong. 2002. Biological and ecological characteristics of Tamarix L. and its effect on the ecological environment. Science in China (45).-Whitcraft Christine R., D.M. Talley, J.A. Crooks, J. Boland, and J. Gaskin. 2007. Invasion of tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) in a southern California salt marsh. Biol. Invasions 9:875-879.-Cosse Allard A., R.J. Bartelt, B,W. Zilkowski, D.W. Bean, and E.R. Andress. 2006. Behaviorally Active Green Leaf Volaties for Monitoring the Leaf Beetle, Diorhabda elongata, a Biocontrol Agent of Saltcedar, Tamarix spp.. J. Chem. Ecol. 32:2695-2708.-Tomaso Joseph M. 1998. Impact, Biology, and Ecology of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) in the Southwestern United States. Weed Technology. 12:326-336.-Taylor John P. and K.C. McDaniel. 1998. Restoration of Saltcedar (Tamarix sp.)- Infested Floodplains on the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Weed Technology 12: 345-352.-Kimball Bruce A. and K.R. Perry. 2008. Manipulating Beaver (Castor canadensis) Feeding Responses to Invasive Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) -Duncan K.W. and K.C. McDaniel. 1998. Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) Management with Imazapyr. Weed Technology 12: 337-344.-Sharfroth Patrick B. et al. 2005. Control of Tamarix in the Western United States: Implications for Water Salvage, Wildlife Use, and Riparian Restoration. Environ. Manage. 35: 231-246.-USDA, NRCS. 2008. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 20 November 2008). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.- In class notes, Bob Nowak.

Works Cited:

Questions?

http://oregonstate.edu