Iodine Bush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
Observed near the Gila River in Buckeye, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. Nov. 2009.
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RANGE: A salt-tolerant plant partial to damp, saline soils. Found in
flood basins adjacent to the rivers or in poorly drained low spots.
Agricultural fields that have become saline and unproductive are colonized by
this plant.
SHRUB: A woody shrub, mostly to 1 meter
tall, occasionally 2 meters. The much-branched stems appear thick, fleshy and
segmented; the surface is green and photosynthetic.
LEAVES: Virtually leafless - the actual leaves are short and scale-like.
FLOWERS: When flowering the abundant small flowers appear yellow with
pollen that is shed into the wind. There are no showy petals. Can give allergy
sufferers pause.
FRUIT: Mature fruits with singleton seeds are barely a mm wide.
UNARMED. No spines.