A new species of gigantic tumbleweed once predicted to go extinct is not only here to stay — it’s likely to expand its territory.
A new species of gigantic tumbleweed once predicted to go extinct is not only here to stay — it’s likely to expand its territory.
The species, Salsola ryanii, is significantly larger than either of its parent plants, which can grow up to 6 feet tall. A new study from UC Riverside supports the theory that the new tumbleweed grows more vigorously because it is a hybrid with doubled pairs of its parents’ chromosomes.
Findings from the study are detailed in a new paper published in the Oxford University-produced journal AoB Plants.
“Salsola ryanii is a nasty species replacing other nasty species of tumbleweed in the U.S.,” said study co-author Norman Ellstrand, UCR Distinguished Professor of Genetics. “It’s healthier than earlier versions, and now we know why.”
Read more at University of California - Riverside
Image: Study co-author Shana Welles found this tumbleweed species in Riverside, California, and put it in the bed of her pickup truck. (Credit: UC Riverside)
