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Saline-alkali land is everywhere along the northern coast of Shandong Province.

Tamarix is a shrub or small tree, four or five meters high. It is a tenacious plant that can grow in harsh environments such as desert, river beach or saline-alkali land.

The old branches of Tamarix are reddish purple or light brown. Because of living in a harsh environment, leaves become very small, like scales, densely growing on branches, and each leaf is only 1-3 mm long. Panicles are born at the top of green shoots, and the flowers are small and dense, pink, elegant and pretty. Tamarix has a long flowering period. From May to September every year, new inflorescences keep sprouting, old flowers wither and new flowers bloom again. Within a few months, there were three ups and downs, and it was endless, so the locals also called it "Sanchunliu".

Tamarix chinensis is one of the most adaptable tree species in arid desert. Its roots are very long and can absorb deep groundwater, and the length can reach tens of meters. Tamarix is not afraid of being buried in sand. After being buried by quicksand, branches can still stick out of sandbags and continue to grow. Therefore, Tamarix chinensis is one of the excellent tree species for windbreak and sand fixation.

Tamarix chinensis also has strong saline-alkali resistance, and can grow on saline-alkali soil containing 0.5%- 1%, so it is an excellent tree species to transform saline-alkali soil.

Tamarix is widely distributed and grows in all parts of China. It is also easy to propagate and cultivate, and can be used for greening. The old branches of Tamarix are soft and tough and can be woven into baskets. Shoots and leaves can be used as medicine and feed for livestock.

Tamarix China

(Tamarix chinensis)

Tamarix, alias Guanyin willow, Xihu willow and Liu Hong, belongs to Tamarix of Tamarix family.

[Morphological characteristics]

Tamarix is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, scaly, small and compact, light blue-green. Branchlets droop, slender as silk, graceful and lovely. Racemes gather at the top of the branches of the current year to form a conical compound inflorescence; Pink flowers bloom in summer and autumn, sometimes three times a year. Capsules mature in 10, and are usually not fruity. (See Figure 3-7)

[Habitual]

Tamarix chinensis is a temperate subtropical tree species, which is produced in Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan and other provinces in China. There are many cultivated plants in the Yellow River basin and coastal saline-alkali land. Hi-light, drought-resistant, cold-resistant, but also more resistant to water and humidity. Extremely salt-tolerant, sandy wasteland, developed root system, strong germination, extremely resistant to pruning and cutting.

[Cultivation techniques]

Propagation: usually by cutting propagation. Old branches and tender branches can be used, and cuttings can be used in spring or autumn. Spring planting is carried out in February-March. Strong branches over one year old, 15-20 cm long, are directly inserted into the seedbed, and the cuttings are exposed to the soil surface for 3-5 cm. They can take root and grow in April-May, and the survival rate is over 95%. With a little management and proper watering and fertilization, the annual seedling can reach as high as 1 m. 10 was transplanted in autumn from September to June, which was the same as that in spring and had high survival rate. In addition, it can be propagated by sowing, layering and rooting.

Management: cultivation is very easy to survive, and the requirements for soil quality are not strict. Loose sandy loam, alkaline soil and neutral soil can be used. Proper watering and topdressing after planting. Tamarix is extremely resistant to pruning. In the spring and summer growth period, you can trim, trim and cut off the branches that are too dense to facilitate ventilation and light transmission. It is feasible to prune once after falling leaves in autumn.

The main pest of Tamarix chinensis is Spodoptera pyriformis, which can be controlled by spraying 800- 1000 parts of trichlorfon in larval stage. Aphids can spray 40% dimethoate 2000 times.

[use]

Tamarix ramosissima has slender branches, swaying posture and beautiful flowers. Can be used as a courtyard hedge, suitable for planting waterfront, Chi Pan, bridge head, river bank, dike, etc. In the streets and lanes along the river, if Tamarix is planted, the trees are sparse and the shade hangs, which has a unique style.