Bassia laniflora (S. G. Gmel.) A. J. Scott

This species provides good fodder and is enjoyed by camels and sheep.

Herbs annual, 20-50 cm tall. Stem erect, simple or sparsely branched, usually reddish purple, not striate, slightly ribbed, slightly cottony pilose; branches obliquely spreading, slender; basal branches suberect. Leaves subsessile, spreading or slightly incurved, semiterete, apex acuminate. Flowers usually 2 or 3 per axillary glomerulate, these forming interrupted spikes on upper branches. Perianth densely long sericeous; segments green, slightly fleshy above winglike appendages; winglike appendages rhombic-ovate to linear, membranous, brown veined, margin erose. Stamens 5; filaments black-brown; anthers exserted, oblong, ca. 1 mm. Style very short; stigmas 2 or 3. Utricle depressed globose; pericarp whitish, membranous, free from seed. Seed black-brown or black, sublustrous, broadly ovoid, 1.5-2 mm; embryo greenish. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.

Sunny slopes, riversides, sandy places. N Xinjiang [N Africa, C and SW Asia, Europe].

Salsola laniflora S. G. Gmelin, Reise Russland 1: 160. 1770–1774; Kochia arenaria (Maerklin) Roth; Salsola arenaria Maerklin; S. dasyphylla Pallas.