Greasewood--Sarcobatus vermiculatus

The other day I noticed the tiny leaves emerging from the greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus), Sarcobatus Family (Sarcobataceae). This shrub is deciduous, losing its leaves in the late fall and regrowing them in the spring. It will also lose its leaves if it doesn't have enough water. Greasewood is considered a phreatophyte, a deep-rooted plant that gets a considerable amount of water from the underlying water table. Roots can be up to about 40 feet deep, so a stand of greasewood is indicative of a shallow water table. Greasewood is considered a halophyte, a salt lover, and is often found around the edges of dry playas.

Greasewood has long thorns, sometimes about two inches long, which is long enough to puncture a car tire. Consider yourself forewarned and don't go driving on greasewood!

Here's a photo of greasewood in winter, with no leaves.

And in spring, summer, and fall, the bright green of the greasewood livens up the desert landscape. For more information about greasewood, click here.