.jpg&width=800)
Greasewood
ExplorePlants
Greasewood
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
Greasewood is a tough plant that grows in dry places. It has long, thin branches and can survive in very salty soil. This plant helps animals find food and shade in the desert.
Habitat: Desert
Appearance
The Greasewood is a sturdy, thorny shrub with rigid, light green to yellowish-green leaves that drop in fall. Its pale bark is often deeply furrowed, giving it a gnarled, robust appearance in arid landscapes.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilySarcobataceaeGenusSarcobatus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
It can grow in places where the soil is even saltier than seawater!
Its super dense wood was historically used to make strong, durable fence posts!
Some Native American tribes once used Greasewood ashes to make a kind of soap!
You can often spot Greasewood thriving where old, dried-up streambeds once flowed!
Special abilities
Ability
Salt Exporter
Greasewood can *store and excrete excess salt* through its leaves, helping it thrive in briny soils other plants avoid.
Ability
Deep Root Diver
Greasewood has *deep taproots* that can reach groundwater, allowing it to survive extreme drought in very dry regions.
Ability
Thorny Shield
Greasewood has *sharp thorns* on its branches that help protect its tender foliage from hungry grazing animals.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-300 cm
- Spread
- 100-200 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Browse its leaves and twigs
eaten by
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Forages on its foliage
eaten by
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Consumes stems and leaves
shelters
Greater Sage-grouse
Centrocercus urophasianus
Uses for nesting cover
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Salt Tolerant
Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Greasewood?
100-300 cm
How wide does Greasewood spread?
100-200 cm
When does Greasewood bloom?
Summer
Is Greasewood edible?
No
Is Greasewood toxic?
High
What is Greasewood's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Greasewood pollinated?
Wind
Where is Greasewood usually found?
Desert
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
