Salsola kali

With very few exceptions, naturally occurring acids and alkalies are weak. All acids known in antiquity were of organic origin some occur in fruits, especially in unripe fruitjuices. Most ancient alkalies were derived from the ash of plants such as barilla, Salsola soda and Salsola kali (Russian thistle), and kelp. 

Georg Adolph Suckow, in his "Introduction to Economic and Technical Chemistry, described in 1784 the preparation of soda by burning certain marine plants such as Fucus vesiculosus, Chenopodium maritimum, and Salsola kali, and leaching it from the half-vitrified ashes. This industry flourished at Alicante, Spain, at Alexandria, Egypt, and along the coasts of Italy and France (47). 

In an attempt to find out whether the presence of soda or potash depended on a specific difference in the plants which produce them or on the composition of the soils, du Hamel devoted many years to agricultural experiments, at his estate at Denainvilliers, on the culture of the common saltwort (Salsola kali), a plant used for the manufacture of soda ash. The final analyses of the ash of this plant proved that in the first year the mineral alkali still predominated, but that in succeeding years the vegetable alkali rapidly increased until finally, after a few generations, the soda had almost disappeared (50). In these experiments, he had for many years the invaluable and enthusiastic help of his brother, M. de Denainvilliers. In his eulogy of du Hamel in the History of the Academy of Sciences, the Marquis de Condorcet gave the following characterizations of the two brothers ... 

Betacyanins and betaxanthins, along with alkaloids in some genera, arc found in the family but no one type is prominent or considered characteristic. Of 87 species tested in this survey, the following were confirmed alkaloid-positive as indicated in the earlier work on the family Alriplex canescens (2/8), A. semibaccata, A. vestila, Beta vulgaris, Chenopodium album (1/7), Salsola kali, Suaeda frui-licosa, S. linearis. 

Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Cactaceae) aps 15,127 78 Salsola arbuscula (Chenopodiaceae) ber 67,878 34 Salsola kali (Chenopodiaceae) book 6 Salsola pestifera (Chenopodiaceae) iant 2, 86 85 Salsola richteri (Chenopodiaceae) rr 16, 86 80... 

The plants just mentioned, the blackberry, chinquapin, (Casta-nea) and dogwood to be used as astringents, the gentians, pipsissewa, Sabbatia, etc., as bitter tonics, can easily be obtained by our soldiers while in camp, and they will be found to fulfill aU the indications required in most cases of fever, dysentery, diarrhea, catarrhs, etc. In the formation of demulcent drinks, as substitutes for flaxseed and gum-arabic, the roots and leaves of the sassafras, and the leaves of the Bene (Sesamum) will suffice. The Podophyllum (wild jalap [i.e., mayapple]) will supply the purgative therefore, with the possession of opium and calomel, the surgeon in the field can himself obtain almost everything desired, and with comparatively little aid from the Medical Purveyors. Our chief desiderata now are the preparations of potash, viz nitrate chlorate and bicarbonate, and sup. carb. of soda. We may procure soda from our Salsola kali [saltwort]." 9... 

Some of the problem dicotyledonous weeds, such as common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Russian thistle (Salsola kali), are resistant to asulam. On the other hand, as a postemergence herbicide asulam is effective against Rumex spp., Averui fatua and Pteridium aquilinum. 

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