saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima

I have seen Tamarix in tropical areas around the world, and even as far north as Colorado. But it was a real surprise to see it cultivated on a peninsula sticking out into Lake Superior. So have we got another invasion coming? Probably not, and that's good. Saltcedar is very well adapted to salty difficult habitats and crowds other plants. It can use very deep water sources that native species can't reach. It has a bad rep for taking up and secreting salt, and changing habitats. It does that with salt, but it turns out those places are already salty, and saltcedar may actually reduce surface salinity. This species has been reported from AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, KS, LA, MS, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, SC, SD, TX, UT, and VA. Michigan Technological University, Houghton Co MI, 7/13/14. Saltcedar family, Tamaricaceae.