- Salsola kali
Taxobox
name = "Salsola kali"
image_caption = "S. kali"
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Caryophyllales
familia =Amaranthaceae
subfamilia =Chenopodiaceae
genus = "Salsola "
species = "S. kali"
binomial = "Salsola kali"
binomial_authority = L."Salsola kali" is a plant species that is commonly known as "Prickly Saltwort," "Russian Thistle", or "Prickly Glasswort". "Salsola kali" is an annual that grows in arid soils and in sandy coastal soils.Mosyakin, Sergei L. (2007). [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415637 "Salsola kali","] in "Flora of North America: North of Mexico [http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1 Volume 4: Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1] ", Editorial Committee of the "Flora of North America" (Oxford University Press, 2004). ISBN 978-0195173895. Online versions retrieved May 23, 2007.] Its original range is Eurasian, but it has become naturalized, and even invasive,Morisawa, TunyaLee (2000). " [http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/moredocs/salkal01.pdf "Weed Notes: "Salsola kali] ," (Nature Conservancy, 2000). Online version retrieved May 23, 2007.] in North America, Australia, and elsewhere. The dried plant can detach and become a "
tumbleweed ."Alkali and soda ash
Soda ash extracted from the ashes of "Salsola kali" contains as much as 30%sodium carbonate ; sodium carbonate is one of thealkali materials essential to makingglass ,soap , and many other commodites. The word "alkali" derives from the Arabic "al qaly," or "from "Kali"." "Salsola soda ", "Salsola kali", "Halogeton sativus ", and othersaltwort andglasswort plants were an important source of soda ash until the early 19th century. In Spain, the saltwort plants were called "barrilla", and were the basis of a large 18th centurybarilla industry. In the early 19th century, plant sources were supplanted by synthetic soda ash produced using theLeblanc process .References
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