Chinese saltcedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese saltcedar
• Chinese tamarisk
• five-stamen tamarisk
• saltcedar

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tamarix plumosa
• Tamarix caspica
• Tamarix juniperina
• Tamarix japonica
• Tamarix elegans
• Tamarix pallasii var. minutiflora
• Tamarix elegans plumosa
• Tamarix gallica var. chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Tamaricaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Tamarix.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse global presence across several distinct continents. In Southwestern Europe, its range includes the country of Spain. The species is also found in Southern Africa, specifically within the Cape Provinces and the Free State. Moving toward Western Asia, it can be located in Palestine. Finally, its distribution extends to China, particularly throughout the China South-Central region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tamarix chinensis is characterized by its ability to thrive in specialized environments, most notably within coastal habitats where it can withstand saline conditions and maritime influences. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution across varying landscapes, occupying an elevational range that reaches a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. Its presence in these diverse settings highlights a robust adaptability to different topographical gradients and soil moisture levels, allowing it to persist from sea-level coastal zones up to significant mid-elevation altitudes.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Tamarix chinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage and structural integrity throughout various environmental shifts. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte life form enables the plant to thrive and maintain its biological continuity over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tamarix chinensis is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as either a shrub or a tree. It is a self-supporting plant, functioning independently as it does not rely on a host as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. The plant reaches a significant stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 1.5 meters to a maximum of 10 meters. It does not exhibit climbing habits, such as lianas or vines, but instead maintains a sturdy, upright structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Tamarix chinensis is characterized by specific adaptations to its environment, beginning with its specialized photosynthetic mechanism. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light and temperature conditions. Its vegetative morphology is defined by highly reduced, scale-like leaves, with a leaf length reaching a maximum of 0.2 cm, a feature that serves to minimize water loss through transpiration. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, Tamarix chinensis is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to meet its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tamarix chinensis involves both sexual and asexual processes, as asexual reproduction is present in this species. Its sexual reproduction is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. The plant produces small fruits with a mean length of 0.8 cm, which contain tiny seeds. These seeds are remarkably uniform in size, with both a minimum and maximum mean length of 0.5 mm. Regarding seed dispersal, the species exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, utilizing various non-specific methods to spread its progeny across the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

0.5 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tamarix chinensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hexadecanoic acid.

Hexadecanoic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Conditions

Tamarix chinensis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include viral pneumonia.

Viral pneumonia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Tamarix chinensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil from the dried twigs and leaves.

Essential oil from the dried twigs and leaves

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica