Tumbleweed

real name: Russian Thistle

Tumbleweed is a plant that grows, dries and breaks off at the base and then blows, or tumbles over the land when the wind blows.

It has light stiff branches.

It grows to over three feet tall.

It grows in flat areas that are open so the wind can blow them around.

Tumbleweed uses this stategy of blowing around to scatter the seeds.

There are several varieties of plant that do this. I am not sure what variety we have here on the farm, but these are photos of it:

Click on each photo to make it full-sized (It will open in a new window)

It is the end of August 2006 and we have tumbleweed blowing about the farm. We had a strong wind here last night (Aug 29)and as well as blowing washing off the line, it is blowing the Russian Thistle, or Tumbleweed about as well. Bosun, enjoys chasing it!