Vegetation Around Las Vegas, Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus)

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Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas

General: Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is an upright, spiny shrub 3-5 feet tall with fleshy, upright leaves. The staminate flowers look like little pine cones, and pistillate flower is cup-like and held in a broad leafy disk.

Greasewood is a common component of shrub communities to the north of Las Vegas in the Great Basin, but sometimes can be found closer to home.

Family: Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).

pistillate flower

Plant Form: Upright, shrub.

Height: To about 5 feet.

Bark: Yellow-green to gray.

Stems: Upright, spreading.

Leaves: Fleshy, held upright.

Fleshy leaves held upright; staminate flowers

Flowers: Staminate flowers look like little pine cones, and pistillate flower is cup-like and held in a broad leafy disk.

Seeds:

Habitat: Areas with alkaline soils.

Elevation: To about 7,000 ft

Distribution: Western North America from California to Texas, and from the arctic to Mexico.

Comments:


Thicket of Greasewood shrubs	A few isolated Greasewood shrubs in a valley bottom

Fleshy leaves held upright	Fleshy leaves held upright
Fleshy leaves held upright	Fleshy leaves held upright
Staminate flower bud	Staminate flower bud
Staminate flower (open)	Staminate flowers, spent
Pistillate flowers	Pistillate flowers



Pistillate flower with wings	Ripe seeds making fall colors

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 220810

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