| DESCRIPTION: It is a spreading, low-growing, evergreen subshrub reaching 20-50 cm in height. Herbaceous flowering stems rise above the woody, decumbent portion of the plant. USE: It provides nutritious forage for livestock and wildlife species throughout its range. Its persistent leaves are an important winter food source. It is particularly important for sheep because it provides the minimum nutritional requirement for maintenance of gestating ewes. It has an extensive, highly branched root system, and tolerates poor site conditions. It is used to stabilize soils and to reclaim disturbed sites. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Gardner saltbush. FURTHER INF: It is most common on saline, poorly developed, or clay soils with a pH of 7.8 to 8.6. Soils are typically low in available phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. It also grows on sodic, silty, or sandy soils. Sites are usually harsh and arid, with widely fluctuating temperatures and high winds. |
