Greasewood
Sarcobatus vermiculatus

Family: Greasewood (Sarcobataceae)
AKA: Black Greasewood
Photo taken on: October 8, 2013
Location: Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry saline or alkaline areas

Grows from 3 to 8 ft tall and 6ft across with spiny, white branches which darken with age. Leaves are narrow, green and fleshy. Male and female flowers are tiny and greenish; the males in catkin-like spikes, the females in the leaf axils. The fruits are surrounded by a wing that is pale green maturing to red. Brown male pollen chains can be seen clinging to the fruits in the photo below at right.

Flora of North America reference.