Black greasewood

Black Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Sarcobataceae. It is native to the western United States and Canada, where it is a common plant in saline soils.

Description

Black Greasewood is a shrub growing up to 1 to 3 meters tall. The branches are stiff and bear small, gray-green leaves, which are actually fleshy, salt-accumulating structures. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate individuals. The fruit is a small, dry achene.

Habitat and distribution

Black Greasewood is found in the western United States and Canada, particularly in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. It is a halophyte, or salt-tolerant plant, and is often found in saline and alkaline soils, such as playas and salt flats.

Uses

The plant has been used by Native Americans for various purposes. The Navajo used the plant in a mixture with other plants as a fumigant to treat skin diseases, while the Paiute used the ashes of the plant to treat diarrhea.

Conservation status

While Black Greasewood is not currently considered threatened, its habitat is being impacted by human activities such as agriculture and urban development, as well as by changes in climate.

See also

• List of plants of the Mojave Desert
• Flora of the Great Basin desert region

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