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History	Ecology	Tamarix	Photos	Control

Tamarix

What is Tamarix?

In general, species of the genus Tamarix are invasive species introduced into North America that cause considerable ecological and economic loss. Tamarix was sold as an ornamental plant for gardens during the 1800 and 1900's. Its seeds escaped cultivated areas and started growing rapidly along stream banks and rivers. Tamarix has now spread to most of the western United States, displacing native cottonwoods and other plants.

The Problem

Over the past 100 years, species of non-native tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) have invaded perhaps hundreds of thousands of acres in riparian zones and desert washes throughout the semi-arid, west and southwest United States (Robinson 1965, Cleverly et al. 1997). Large stands of tamarisk transpire vast amounts of precious water supplies, negatively alter soil chemistry, and out-compete native plant species (Zimmerman 1997, Di Tomaso 1998, Smith et al. 1998, Zavaleta 2000). Tamarisk is a prolific seeder, consummate resprouter, and is fire tolerant. Tamarisk has negative effects on many wildlife species, but it can act as marginal replacement habitat for some bird species, including the federally endangered native Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, though native riparian species such as cottonwoods, box elder, and willows would be more suitable habitat in the long term (DeLoach et al. 2003). Disruptions of the natural flow regimes and hybridization may be partly responsible for the spread and dominance of tamarisk in some areas, but additional research is needed for many aspects of tamarisk ecology (Schaal et al. 2003). One of the greatest limiting factors in understanding and controlling tamarisk is the lack of a detailed, high resolution map of tamarisk distribution and abundance relative to biologic, geographic and hydrologic conditions.

References:

Cleverly, J.R., S.D. Smith, A. Sala, D.A. Devitt. 1997. Invasive capacity of Tamarix ramosissima in a Mojave Desert floodplain: The role of drought. Oecologia 111(1):12-18.

Di Tomaso, J.M. 1998. Impact, biology, and ecology of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) in the southwestern United States. Weed Technology 12(2):326-336.

Robinson, T.R. 1965. Introduction, spread, and areal extent of saltcedar (Tamarix) in the western States. U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 491(A).

Schaal, B.A., J.F. Gaskin, A.L. Caicedo. 2003. Phylogeography, haplotype trees, and invasive plant species. Journal of Heredity 94(3):197-204.

Smith, S.D., D.A. Devitt, A. Sala, J.R. Cleverly, D.E. Busch. 1998. Water relations of riparian plants from warm desert regions. Wetlands 18(4):687-696.

Zavaleta, E. 2000. The economic value of controlling an invasive shrub. Ambio 29(8):462-467.

Zimmerman, J.A.C. 1997. Ecology and Distribution of Tamarix sp.

An IBIS website Updated 2/3/2012