Russian thistle

Common Name: Russian Thistle

Other Names: Tumbleweed, Tumbling Thistle

Species Name: Salsola iberica

Plant Type: Broadleafs/Herbaceous

Family Name: Chenopodiaceae

Plant Facts
Origin	Introduced, Europe
Duration	Annual
Season	Warm
Distribution in the U.S.	Throughout the Great Plains, but most frequent in the western portion of the region, especially where small grains are grown
Distribution in Oklahoma	Throughout the state

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
- Leaves are alternate and thread-like, tips are spinose, upper leaves thickened at the base and enclosing the fruit, surfaces without hair to pubescent; sessile to clasping
- The stems are branched and usually red streaked
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Leaf Type: Sessile
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
- Leaf Shape: Long, cylindrical
- Stems: Erect, much-branched, usually red-streaked
Floral Characteristics
- Petal Number: None
- Sepals: 5
- Flower color: Green
- Flower Timing: August-October
- Fruit Type: Ericle; pericarp freshly, obovoid, tip winged; seeds 1
- Inflorescence: Spike-like, auxiliary
- Seed: Black, round, smooth, shiny

Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Varying
Habitat	Cultivated dryland crops, abused rangeland, abandoned fields and waste areas
Successional Stage	Mid

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