Salsola

Salsola is a genus of flowering plants in the Amaranthaceae family. Commonly known as saltworts and tumbleweeds, these species are adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, often tolerating high soil salinity. The plants range from annual herbs to woody shrubs and are distributed across parts of Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas.

They typically grow in deserts, steppes, salt flats, and disturbed soils. Many species are halophytes, thriving where other vegetation struggles, and they contribute to soil stabilization in fragile landscapes. Reproductive strategies include numerous small seeds, sometimes aided by wind dispersal as the plant decays into a rolling tumbleweed.

Leaves are usually small and simple, often narrow or scale-like; stems are erect or sprawling. Flowers are tiny and clustered in dense inflorescences; fruits are small and produce numerous seeds. In some species, dried branches detach as tumbleweeds, aiding wind-assisted dispersal.

The genus has undergone revisions, with many species formerly placed in Salsola now placed in Kali or other genera. Notable species include the invasive Salsola tragus, often referred to as Russian thistle or tumbleweed (in many treatments placed in Kali tragus), and Salsola soda, known as agretti, cultivated as an edible greens in some regions.

Some species are used as edible greens (S. soda), forage, or ornamental plants. Others are considered agricultural or ecological weeds due to rapid spread and formation of dense stands that alter local ecosystems. They are also studied for their salt tolerance and potential applications in saline agriculture.