AusTraits

Salsola australis

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Family Chenopodiaceae

Taxonomy: Salsola australis R.Br.

Synonyms: 19 (APC 2026-07-30)
  • Kali australis (R.Br.) Akhani & Roalson (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Coastal (R.J.Chinnock 10246) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Compact (R.J.Chinnock 10176) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Glaucous (R.J.Chinnock 10206) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Lucid (R.J.Chinnock 10212) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Pubescent (R.J.Chinnock 10207) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis subsp. Strobilifera (R.J.Chinnock 10177) (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola australis var. strobilifera (Benth.) Domin (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola brachypteris Moq. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola kali var. austroafricana Aellen (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola kali var. brachypteris (Moq.) Benth. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola kali var. leptophylla Benth. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola kali var. pontica Pall. (pro parte taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola kali var. strobilifera Benth. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola macrophylla R.Br. (doubtful taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola sabrinae Mosyakin (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola strobilifera (Benth.) Mosyakin (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola tragus subsp. grandiflora Rilke (taxonomic synonym)
  • Salsola tragus subsp. pontica (Pall.) Rilke (pro parte taxonomic synonym)
Misapplied names: 4 (APC 2026-07-30)
  • Salsola kali L. (pro parte misapplied)
  • Salsola kali L. (misapplied)
  • Salsola tragus L. (pro parte misapplied)
  • Salsola tragus L. subsp. tragus (misapplied)

Distribution (APC): WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, ACT (naturalised), Vic, Tas (naturalised)

Profiles: APC, Flora of Australia, ALA, iNaturalist, NSW Flora, NT eFlora, SA eFlora, Vic Flora, Florabase, ATRP

Traits

Top source datasets: ABRS_2022 (4), ABRS_2023 (12), Cheal_2017 (4), Clarke_2015 (3), Collette_2021 (1), Crowley_2007 (4), Dong_2017 (8), Draper_2023 (3), Fonseca_2000 (45), Jurado_1991 (5), Jurado_1992 (3), Leishman_1992 (7), Moles_2003 (4), Munroe_2019 (3), NHNSW_2014_2 (2), NHNSW_2022 (4), NHNSW_2023 (4), NTH_2014 (2), NTH_2022 (7), NTH_2023 (23), Pate_1998 (5), RBGV_2022 (10), RBGV_2023 (34), SAH_2022 (4), SAH_2023 (12), Sweedman_2006 (3), WAH_2022_2 (15), WAH_2023_2 (5), Wenk_2022 (2), Wenk_2023 (1), Wheeler_2002 (10), White_2020 (114), Wright_2000 (6), eFLOWER_Dun_2022 (18). See below for a full list of sources.
Summary: AusTraits contains 76 traits from 387 records in 34 datasets.

Traits by category (click to expand). For categorical traits, the values are listed. For numerical traits, the mean and range are shown.

fire response
  • resprouting_capacity (categorical): fire_killed (9) [sources: Clarke_2015; Crowley_2007; White_2020]
  • post_fire_recruitment (categorical): post_fire_recruitment (1); post_fire_recruitment_absent (1) [sources: Cheal_2017; Clarke_2015]
flower morphology
  • flower_colour (categorical): green (1); white_cream (1) [sources: eFLOWER_Dun_2022]
fruit morphology
  • fruit_type (categorical): utricle (7) [sources: ABRS_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
leaf morphology
  • leaf_area (numerical): 23.39 mm2 (3.2-100 mm2) [sources: Fonseca_2000; Jurado_1991; Leishman_1992]
  • leaf_length (numerical): 24.33 mm (5-90 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_width (numerical): 1.49 mm (0.5-6 mm) [sources: Fonseca_2000; ABRS_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_dry_mass (numerical): 2.36 mg (1-4 mg) [sources: Fonseca_2000]
  • leaf_mass_per_area (numerical): 289.02 g/m2 (113.64-625 g/m2) [sources: Dong_2017; Fonseca_2000]
  • leaf_shape (categorical): elliptical (1); falcate (1); linear (7); narrowly_triangular (2); oblong (1); subulate (4); terete (4); triangular (2) [sources: ABRS_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_margin (categorical): entire (5) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2014_2; NTH_2023; SAH_2023]
  • leaf_lobation (categorical): unlobed (1) [sources: Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_compoundness (categorical): simple (8) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2014_2; NTH_2014; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_lamina_posture (categorical): flat (1); recurved (4) [sources: NTH_2023; RBGV_2023]
  • leaf_phyllotaxis (categorical): alternate (7) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
  • plant_photosynthetic_organ (categorical): leaf (8) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
life history
  • photosynthetic_pathway (categorical): c4 (10) [sources: Munroe_2019; Pate_1998; White_2020]
  • plant_growth_form (categorical): herb (18); shrub (4); subshrub (4) [sources: ABRS_2022; Fonseca_2000; Jurado_1991; Leishman_1992; Moles_2003; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; Pate_1998; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022; Wheeler_2002; White_2020]
  • life_history (categorical): annual (14); biennial (4); perennial (1) [sources: ABRS_2022; Leishman_1992; Moles_2003; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • woodiness_detailed (categorical): herbaceous (11); semi_woody (1); woody (1) [sources: ABRS_2022; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022]
  • stem_growth_habit (categorical): compact (1); dense (2); erect (8); spreading (1) [sources: ABRS_2022; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2]
  • leaf_phenology (categorical): evergreen (1) [sources: NTH_2014]
  • nitrogen_fixing (categorical): non_nitrogen_fixer (8) [sources: Dong_2017; Pate_1998; White_2020]
  • parasitic (categorical): not_parasitic (6) [sources: White_2020]
  • pollination_syndrome (categorical): abiotic (6); wind (1) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • dispersal_syndrome (categorical): anemochory (8) [sources: Draper_2023; Jurado_1991; White_2020]
  • dispersers (categorical): wind (7) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • flowering_time (categorical): nnnnyyyyyynn (5); yyyyyyyyyyyy (1) [sources: White_2020]
  • seedbank_longevity_class (categorical): long_persistent (1); persistent (6) [sources: Cheal_2017; White_2020]
  • seed_dormancy_class (categorical): non_dormant (1) [sources: Collette_2021]
  • seed_viability (numerical): 0.83 {count}/{count} (0.83-0.83 {count}/{count}) [sources: Moles_2003]
  • vegetative_reproduction_ability (categorical): not_vegetative (6) [sources: White_2020]
  • storage_organ (categorical): no_storage_organ (1) [sources: Leishman_1992]
  • bud_bank_location (categorical): none (3) [sources: Clarke_2015; Crowley_2007]
nutrient and stable isotope
  • leaf_N_per_dry_mass (numerical): 15.17 mg/g (15.17-15.17 mg/g) [sources: Dong_2017]
  • leaf_delta13C (numerical): -19.78 {delta}[ppth] (-25.76--13.8 {delta}[ppth]) [sources: Dong_2017; Pate_1998]
seed morphology
  • seed_dry_mass (numerical): 0.88 mg (0.88-0.88 mg) [sources: Leishman_1992]
  • seed_shape (categorical): orbicular (7) [sources: ABRS_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
whole plant morphology
  • plant_height (numerical): 0.79 m (0.4-1.3 m) [sources: ABRS_2023; Leishman_1992; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; WAH_2023_2; Wheeler_2002]
  • plant_physical_defence_structures (categorical): absent (1); sharp_pointed_defence (5) [sources: White_2020]

Sources

dataset_idn_traitsn_recordsreference
White_202019114M. White, S. Sinclair, and D. Frood. Victorian Vital Attributes Database. database. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria, 2020.
Fonseca_2000545C. R. Fonseca, J. M. Overton, B. Collins, and M. Westoby. “Shifts in trait-combinations along rainfall and phosphorus gradients”. Journal of Ecology 88 (2000), pp. 964-977. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2000.00506.x.
RBGV_20231034VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
NTH_20231023D. of Land Resource Management and N. T. of Australia. Northern Territory Flora Online. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://eflora.nt.gov.au/.
eFLOWER_Dun_20221618L. Dun and H. Sauquet. “Unpublished: Floral traits for GAP taxa, University of New South Wales, Australia”. 2022.
WAH_2022_2415Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
ABRS_20231012Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
SAH_20231012S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
RBGV_2022410VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Wheeler_2002810J. R. Wheeler, N. G. Marchant, and M. Lewington. Flora of the south west: Bunbury, Augusta, Denmark. Australian Biological Resources Study ; University of Western Australia Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780642568168.
Dong_201788N. Dong, I. C. Prentice, B. J. Evans, S. Caddy-Retalic, A. J. Lowe, and I. J. Wright. “Leaf nitrogen from first principles: field evidence for adaptive variation with climate”. Biogeosciences 14.2 (2017), pp. 481-495. doi: 10.5194/bg-14-481-2017.
Leishman_199277M. R. Leishman and M. Westoby. “Classifying plants into groups on the basis of associations of individual traits-Evidence from Australian semi-arid woodlands”. Journal of Ecology 80 (1992), pp. 417-424. doi: 10.2307/2260687.
NTH_202247D. of Land Resource Management and N. T. of Australia. Northern Territory Flora Online. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://eflora.nt.gov.au/.
Wright_200066I. J. Wright, H. T. Clifford, R. Kidson, M. L. Reed, B. L. Rice, and M. Westoby. “A survey of seed and seedling characters in 1744 Australian dicotyledon species: Cross-species trait correlations and correlated trait-shifts within evolutionary lineages”. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 69 (2000), pp. 521-547. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2000.tb01222.x.
Jurado_199155E. Jurado. “Diaspore weight, dispersal, growth form and perenniality of central Australian plants”. Journal of Ecology 79 (1991), pp. 811-828.
Pate_199855J. S. Pate, M. J. Unkovich, P. D. Erskine, and G. R. Stewart. “Australian mulga ecosystems- 13C and 15N natural abundances of biota components and their ecophysiological significance”. Plant, Cell and Environment 21.12 (1998), pp. 1231-1242. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1998.00359.x.
WAH_2023_215Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
ABRS_202244Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
Cheal_201744D. Cheal. Growth stages and tolerable fire intervals for Victoria's native vegetation data sets. Fire and adaptive management, report no. 84. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, 2010.
Crowley_200724G. Crowley, M. Gardener, and M. Marrinan. Tropical savannas fire response database. 2007. url: [www.landmanager.org.au](www.landmanager.org.au).
Moles_200344A. T. Moles, D. I. Warton, and M. Westoby. “Seed size and survival in the soil in arid Australia”. Austral Ecology 28.5 (2003), pp. 575-585. doi: 10.1046/j.1442-9993.2003.01314.x.
NHNSW_202244N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
NHNSW_202344N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
SAH_202244S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
Clarke_201533P. J. Clarke, M. J. Lawes, B. P. Murphy, J. Russell-Smith, C. E. Nano, R. Bradstock, N. J. Enright, J. B. Fontaine, C. R. Gosper, I. Radford, J. J. Midgley, and R. M. Gunton. “A synthesis of postfire recovery traits of woody plants in Australian ecosystems”. Science of The Total Environment 534 (2015), pp. 31-42. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.002.
Draper_202333J. T. Draper, S. Delean, J. G. Conran, P. Weinstein, and B. S. Simpson. “Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia”. Australian Journal of Botany unknown.unknown (2023), p. unknown. doi: 10.1071/BT22110.
Jurado_199213E. Jurado and M. Westoby. “Germination biology of selected central Australian plants”. Austral Ecology 17.3 (1992), pp. 341-348. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1992.tb00816.x.
Munroe_201913S. E. M. Munroe, F. A. McInerney, J. Andrae, N. Welti, G. R. Guerin, E. Leitch, T. Hall, S. Szarvas, R. Atkins, S. Caddy-Retalic, and B. Sparrow. “The Photosynthetic Pathways of Plant Species Surveyed in Australia's National Terrestrial Monitoring Network”. Scientific Data 8 (2021), p. 97. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00877-z.
Sweedman_200613L. Sweedman and D. Merritt. Australian Seeds: A Guide to Their Collection, Identification, and Biology. CSIRO Publishing, 2006. ISBN: 9780643094079.
NHNSW_2014_222Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET: NSW flora online. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
NTH_201422Northern Territory Herbarium. Flora of the Darwin Region Online. 2014. url: http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/plants-and-animals/herbarium/darwin_flora_online.
Wenk_202222E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant growth forms dataset”. 2022.
Collette_202111J. C. Collette and M. K. J. Ooi. “Distribution of seed dormancy classes across a fire-prone continent: effects of rainfall seasonality and temperature”. Annals of Botany 127.5 (2021), pp. 613-620. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcaa203.
Wenk_202311E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant life history dataset, University of New South Wales, Sydney”. 2023.