Iodine bush

Allenrolfea occidentalis

Native halophytic shrub under 3 ft. tall with knobby succulent stems becoming woody toward the base and small petal-less flowers, blooming mid-summer to late fall. The only species in the genus. Extremely salt tolerant, preferring alkaline soils of salt playas, mudflats and dry desert lakebeds; up to 8,000 ft. elevation. Large shallow root system extends up to 30 ft. from the plant, capturing surface water and spreading by runners. Often set atop hummocks formed by trapping windblown sand. Minimal forage value for livestock and browsing wildlife; seeds eaten by birds and rodents.