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]
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]
^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.
ISSN0378-2697.
S2CID25370346.
^
abAkhani, 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.
ISSN1058-5893.
S2CID86789297.
^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.
^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
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salsoloideae.