Salsoloideae

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Salsoloideae
Salsola oppositifolia.JPG
Salsola oppositifolia , in fruit
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Subfamily: Salsoloideae
Raf.
Genera

About 35 genera, see text

The Salsoloideae are a subfamily of the Amaranthaceae, formerly in family Chenopodiaceae.

Contents

Description

These are herbs, subshrubs, shrubs and some trees. Stems and leaves are often succulent. The ovary contains a spiral embryo. In most genera, scarious wings develop at the outside of the fruiting perianth, allowing for dispersal by the wind (anemochory). In tribe Caroxyleae, the stamens have vesiculose anther appendages, discolor with anthers, that probably play a role for insect pollination. In tribe Salsoleae the anther appendages are absent or small and inconspicuous.

Distribution

The area with most species (center of diversity) are the deserts and semideserts of Central-Asia and the Middle East. Distribution of the subfamily extends to the Mediterranean, to Middle-Europe, north and south Africa, and Australia, some species have also been introduced to America. Many species grow in dry habitats (xerophytes) or tolerate salty soils (halophytes), some are ruderals.

Photosynthesis pathway

Salsoloideae are C4 plants (with a few exceptions in tribe Salsoleae). Tribe Caroxyleae is exclusively of the NAD-malic enzyme C4 subtype. Most Salsoleae also use the NADP-malic enzyme. [1]

Taxonomy

Climacoptera turcomanica, in fruit Climacoptera turcomanica 2.jpg
Climacoptera turcomanica , in fruit
Cornulaca monacantha Cornulaca monacantha.jpg
Cornulaca monacantha
Halothamnus subaphyllus, in fruit Halothamnus subaphyllus ssp charifii.JPG
Halothamnus subaphyllus , in fruit
Saxaul, Haloxylon ammodendron Haloxylon ammodendron.jpg
Saxaul, Haloxylon ammodendron
Hammada griffithii, in fruit Haloxylon griffithii 1.jpg
Hammada griffithii , in fruit
Salsola tragus Salsola tragus 3.jpg
Salsola tragus

The type genus of subfamily Salsoloideae is Salsola L. According to recent research, the former classification did not reflect the phylogenetic relationship, so that the subfamily had to be reclassified; it is now split in two tribes, Caroxyleae and Salsoleae (in the strict sense). [2] [3] The tribe Camphorosmeae is now treated in its own subfamily, Camphorosmoideae. [4]

Caroxyleae

Caroxyleae Akhani & E. H. Roalson (as "Caroxyloneae") [2]

Salsoleae

Classification in subfamily not sure

References

  1. Pyankov, V.; Ziegler, H.; Kuz'min, A.; Edwards, G. (2001). "Origin and evolution of C4 photosynthesis in the tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae) based on anatomical and biochemical types in leaves and cotyledons". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 230 (1–2): 43–74. doi:10.1007/s006060170004. ISSN   0378-2697. S2CID   25370346.
  2. 1 2 Akhani, H.; Edwards, G.; Roalson, E.H. (2007). "Diversification of the Old World Salsoleae s.l. (Chenopodiaceae): Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and chloroplast data sets and a revised classification". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 168 (6): 931–956. doi:10.1086/518263. ISSN   1058-5893. S2CID   86789297.
  3. Schüssler, Christina; Freitag, Helmut; Koteyeva, Nuria; Schmidt, Denise; Edwards, Gerald; Voznesenskaya, Elena; Kadereit, Gudrun (1 January 2017). "Molecular phylogeny and forms of photosynthesis in tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae)". Journal of Experimental Botany. 68 (2): 207–223.
  4. Kadereit, G.; Freitag, H. (2011). "Molecular phylogeny of Camphorosmeae (Camphorosmoideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for biogeography, evolution of C4-photosynthesis and taxonomy". Taxon. 60 (1): 51–78. doi:10.1002/tax.601006.
  5. Sukhorukov AP, Fedorova AV, Kushunina M, Mavrodiev EV (2022) Akhania, a new genus for Salsola daghestanica, Caroxylon canescens and C. carpathum (Salsoloideae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae). PhytoKeys 211: 45-61. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.211.89408