Salsola tragus (=S.kali) (Russian-thistle)

Salsola tragus (=S.kali)

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Salsola tragus (=S.kali) (Russian-thistle) is a large, bushy summer annual (family Chenopodiaceae). It can be found throughout California, including in agricultural areas, desert, roadsides and other disturbed areas. Russian-thistle can impede traffic, create fire hazards, and is a host of the beet leaf-hopper, an agricultural insect pest.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: Limited

Cal-IPC Resources on Salsola tragus (=S.kali)

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Salsola tragus.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Salsola tragus.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• O'Rourke, B. and J. Horenstein (2009). Tackling invasive plants on California Sept. of Fish & Game lands. Cal-IPC News. 17: 12.
• Pitcairn, M. (2000). All weeds that have approved biological control agents, accidental introductions and others. CalEPPC News. 8.
• Stein, E. D. and V. Vartanian (1997). Killing the beast: A cooperative approach for control of Arundo donax in the Santa Ana River watershed. CalEPPC News. 5: 4-6,8.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Ayres, D., F. Ryan, et al. (2005). Tumbleweeds of California - Who, what, where, and how? California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Bainbridge, D. A. (1996). The tumbleweed cnetennial in the Antelope Valley, California. California Exotic Pest Plant Symposium '96. San Diego, CA.
• Devender, T. R. V., R. S. Frlger, et al. (1997). Exotic plants in the Sonoran desert region, Arizona and Sonora. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• DiTomaso, J. M. (1997). Risk analysis of various weed control methods. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• Etra, J. (2006). Tall whitetop control on the 102 Ranch and implications for other applications. Cal-IPC Symposium. Rohnert Park, CA.
• Gerlach, J. D. (1997). How the west was lost: Reconstructing the invasion dynamics of yellow star-thistle and other plant invaders of western rangelands and natural areas. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• Ryan, F. J., D. R. Ayres, et al. (1999). There's more to tumbleweed (Russian thistle) than meets the eye. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '99. Sacramento, CA.
• Smith, L., M. Cristofaro, et al. (2005). Status of new agents for biological control of yellow starthistle and Russian thistle. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Smith, L., M. Cristofaro, et al. (2002). Biological control programs for yellow starthistle and Russian thistle. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2002. Sacramento, CA.
• Smith, L., R. Sobhian, et al. (2006). Prospects for biological control of Russian thistle (tumbleweed). Cal-IPC Symposium. Rohnert Park, CA.

Other Resources on Salsola tragus (=S.kali)

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• Encycloweedia - Plants rated as noxious weeds by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

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