Invader Tamerix

Tamari are a family of low growing shrubs or small trees with pink or white flowers and either reddish brown or purplish brown bark, which is smooth on young branches and rough on older branches. The flowers have four to ten stamen each and four to five petals, which are arranged in a disk shape to invite the insects that pollinate the plant. Small, feathery leaves prevent tamarisk plants from losing water too readily and add to its soft, decorative appearance. Tamerisk is also referred to as “salt cedar” partly because of the leave’s resemblance to cedar leaves and partly because of the plant’s propensity for alkaline soil (Taylor Ronald J 296). It is a very durable species; tamerisk roots often stretch over ten meters, or thirty-three feet, to reach the water below

As the tamerisk has become more prevalent, its negative aspects have severely overshadowed its meager positive attributes. In fact, the tamerisk is now classified as one of the ten most noxious weeds in the country. The deep root system can find and deplete water sources, especially in dry arid regions, lowering the water table for entire deserts. The soil surrounding tamarisk plants becomes saline or salty, a detriment to most forms of plant life, if they manage to survive the lowered amounts of water in their habitat in the first place. Native plant life is overrun and often eradicated by this interloper (Rouhollah and Rodier).

The tamarisk is a very hearty plant that is prevalent throughout most of the world in climates ranging from the Gobi Desert to riverfronts all across the United States, due to its ability to survive fire, flood, and famine. There are a few practical uses for this family of plant such as erosion prevention and extraction of chemicals; however, it can be a detriment to its surroundings as it competes fiercely with other plants in a habitat. These attributes far outweigh the benefits of this all too vigorous plant. Ways of controlling this family of plants are desperately needed, and biologists around the world are working to find them every day.

them, making them able to withstand dry conditions better than most plants. Sand and soil get trapped in their lower branches, which can then develop into roots to help cope with becoming buried (Moore, Plant Life 110, 111). Tamerisks can spread their tufted seedpods, each containing thousands of

Some topics in this essay:
, Plant Life, Muzika Swearingen, Experiments United, Encyclopedia Vol, Gobi Desert, Taylor Ronald, United Tamerisks, Exodus Israelites, Tamerisks Tamerix, plant life, tamarisk plants, muzika swearingen, illustrated encyclopedia vol, moore illustrated encyclopedia, moore illustrated, spread country, white substance, biological means, encyclopedia vol, illustrated encyclopedia, life 110 111, plant life 110, gobi desert, moore plant life,