Tamarix L.

2. Tamarix L. View in CoL 3

Leaves small, scale-like, amplexicaul or sheathing, with immersed, salt-secreting glands. Flowers small, white or pink, in spike-like racemes, which may be borne on the growth of the current year, or of previous years, or both. Sepals and petals 4-5. Stamens 4-15, of which 4-5 are antesepalous and 0-10 antepetalous; anthers extrorse. In the species without antepetalous stamens there is a more or less fleshy, nectar-secreting, 4- to 5-lobed disc between stamens and ovary. Styles 3-4, short. Seeds with a sessile tuft of hairs.

The racemes may be vernal (produced early in the season, from the woody stems) or aestival (produced later on the growth of the current year). Recent work has shown that this distinction has not the taxonomic value which was formerly attributed to it, as the behaviour of many species varies according to the climate. The information given below refers to the behaviour of plants in their native European habitats. Measurements of racemes refer to the flowering condition.

Literature: A. von Bunge, Tentamen Generis Tamaricum Species accuratius definiendi. Dorpat. 1852. F. Niedenzu, De Genere Tamarice. Braunsberg. 1895. G. Arendt, Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Tamarix . Berlin. 1926. B. Baum, Monographie Revision o f the Genus Tamarix . Jerusalem. 1966.

1 Sepals and petals 4

2 Bracts shorter than or ± equalling the pedicels

3 Racemes 10-12 mm wide; sepals 2-2-5 mm 6. hampeana

3 Racemes 6-8 mm wide; sepals 1-1-5 mm

4 Bracts obtuse; racemes mostly vernal 12. laxa

4 Bracts acute; racemes mostly aestival 13. gracilis

2 Bracts distinctly exceeding the pedicels

5Racemes 7-10 mm wide; bracts exceeding the calyx

6 Sepals c. 3-5 mm 7. dalmatica

6 Sepals not more than 2-5 mm

7 Inner sepals denticulate; base of filaments confluent with lobes of disc 10. boveana

7 Sepals all ±entire; filaments inserted in slight notches on lobes of disc 11. meyeri

5 Racemes 3—6(—7) mm wide; bracts not exceeding the calyx

8 Bark black; bracts herbaceous in proximal half; petals more than 2 mm 4. tetrandra

8 Bark brown to purple; bracts entirely scarious; petals less than 2 mm 5. parviflora

1 Sepals and petals 5 9 Base of filaments confluent with lobes of disc 10 Racemes 8-12 mm wide 11 Bracts exceeding pedicels; petals narrowly obovate, with distinct claw 7. dalmatica

11 Bracts shorter than pedicels; petals ±elliptical, without distinct claw 6. hampeana

10 Racemes 3-8 mm wide 12 Petals 2-3 mm, at least some of them persistent 1. africana

12 Petals 1-25-2 mm, caducous

13 Bracts equalling or exceeding the calyx; petals not more than 1-5 mm 2. canariensis

13 Bracts not extending beyond middle of calyx; petals 1-5-2 mm

14 Glabrous; sepals entire 3. gallica

14 Hairy or papillose; sepals finely and closely denticulate

14. hispida

9 Filaments alternating with lobes of disc, inserted in or below the sinus

15 Petals persistent; racemes 3-5 mm wide 16 Petals obovate, not keeled 8. ramosissima

16 Petals ovate to suborbicular, keeled 9. smyrnensis

15 Petals caducous; racemes 6-7 mm wide 17 Pedicel much shorter than calyx; sepals 2-2-5 mm

4. tetrandra

17 Pedicel longer than calyx; sepals 1 mm 13. gracilis