What Are Tumbling Tumbleweeds? 0 10

Russian thistle, kochia, saltwort, and some types of onions — all these plants, belonging to various botanical species, are collectively known as tumbleweeds. Their common feature is that, inhabiting desert and semi-desert regions, by the end of the growing season, they take the form of peculiar balls made of intertwined twigs. These balls, caught by the wind, can travel significant distances, scattering seeds of plants along their path.

One such “traveler” is Maximowicz's rhubarb. With the first warm rays of spring, large leaves grow from the ground, and soon a reddish branching stem appears, which blooms within 2–3 days with small fragrant flowers. Over time, the leaves become even larger while remaining tightly pressed to the ground at the edges. At first glance, the leaves may seem like an unnecessary element for desert conditions; however, it is precisely because of them that the plant acquires water, acting like a plastic film in a greenhouse. The outer surface of the leaves is covered with a waxy coating that prevents moisture evaporation, and water from the soil, condensing on the underside of the leaf, is absorbed by it.

After flowering, burgundy-brown seeds form on the rhubarb. Soon, the root neck dries out, and the wind-caught ball begins its journey across the desert. Interestingly, a bare spot remains where it grew — not a blade of grass, like an enchanted circle. It is likely that the leaves of the rhubarb contain powerful herbicidal substances, with which the plant conducts a “chemical war” against its neighbors, unwilling to share the limited moisture resources in the desert.