Hymenoclea salsola Torr. & A. Gray var. salsola
Cheesebush
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Hymenoclea From Greek hymen, “membrane,” and kleio, “to enclose”
Species salsola From Latin salsus, “salty”
var. salsola From Latin salsus, “salty”
About plant names...
Cheesebush is native to the Sonoran, Mojave, and Colorado Deserts of Baja California,
southern California, southern Nevada, the southwestern corner of Utah, Arizona, and
northwest Mexico. It is an early colonizer of disturbed sites, being replaced in time
by plants such as creosotebush .
Plants: A rounded, often disheveled shrub 3-8′ high ⨉ 6-24′ around (91-243 cm ⨉ 1.8-7.3 m).
It is a perennial , but it drops its leaves during periods of drought.
Leaves: Thin branches have needle-like leaves
¾-3″ (1.9-7.6 cm) long, but only 1/32-1/16″ (1-2 mm) wide. The name comes from a disagreeable
cheeselike odor given off when the
leaves are crushed.
Flowers: Multiple white male flowers
about ¼″ (8.3 mm) in diameter.
Fruits: Pearly, winged fruits are white, yellow, or pink.
Online References:
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
Cabezaprieta.org
CalPhotos
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
The Jepson Manual
References:
MacKay, Pam, Mojave Desert Wildflowers: Including the Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park , Morris Book Publishing, LLC, 2013 , p. 272
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/4/2018 · Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
4/30/2018 · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Ambrosia salsola (Torr. & A. Gray) Strother & B.G. Baldw.
Ambrosia salsola (Torr. & A. Gray) Strother & B.G. Baldw. var. salsola
Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 10 Sep 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/4/2018 · Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
5/4/2018 · Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
5/4/2018 · Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
Range:
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