Plants → Magnoliophyta → Magnoliopsida → Caryophyllales → Tamaricaceae Link → Tamarix L. → Tamarix aphylla (L.) H.Karst.
Tree, to 12 m high. Fl. pink-white, Feb or May. Along river banks.
Beard’s Provinces: Eremaean Province, Northern Province, South-West Province.
IBRA Regions: Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions: Avon Wheatbelt P2, Cape Range, Geraldton Hills, Hart, Perth, Western Mallee, Wooramel.
IMCRA Regions: Central West Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs): Beverley, Carnarvon, Cockburn, Exmouth, Greater Geraldton, Halls Creek, Kulin, Rockingham, Shark Bay, Toodyay, Wanneroo.
General Biology. Growth form. Tree. Life form. Annual. Reproduction. Seed and vegetative. Dispersal. Seed dispersal by wind, water and animals.. Time to first flowering. Third Year. Seedbank persistence. Seed die quickly if not kept moist.. Fire response. Fire adapted species that resprouts from the roots crown after fire..
Notes. Flowers are small with petals about 2 mm long, stalkless, pale-pink or whitish, and borne in elongated clusters, 3-6 cm long near the tips of the branches. Athel Tree fruits are bell shaped and 2-3 cm long..
Additional information. Origin. Native of Northern Africa and Asia (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Middle East). History of use/introduction. Introduced in the 1930s for use as shade, wind break and erosion control around rural South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Barkly Tablelands and Alice Spring regions.. Similar exotic species. Tamarix paviflora, Tamarix ramosissima.. Similar native species. Resembles native she-oaks (Casuarina and Allocasuarina species.
Suggested method of management and control. Mechanical removal of seedlings and trees with attention given to removing as much of the root system as possible. Suitable natives should be sown in placec to outcompete any potential regrowth. Chemical control is also possible in areas susceptible to erosion. Herbecide can be applied by frilling the bark (small notches 5 cm apart), the cut stump technique or basal bark technique for smaller trees. Biological control has been employed in the USA, but has not yet been investigated in Australia. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Germination | O | O | Y | Y | Y | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | |
Optimum Treatment | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
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Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/