GC: n
S: NatGeo – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/the-weed-that-won-the-west (last access: 25 April 205); NHM – https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/tumbleweeds-fastest-plant-invasion-in-usa-history.html (last access: 25 April 205).
N: 1. also tumble-weed, 1881, detached top of a globular weed that rolls with the wind over U.S. plains in autumn, from verb “tumble” (c. 1300, tumblen, “perform as an acrobat, dance acrobatically”; the general meaning “roll about by turning one way and another” is from early 15c.) + noun “weed” (“herbaceous plant not cultivated or valued for use or beauty; troublesome or undesirable plant,”).
2. a plant found especially in the North American desert that breaks away from its roots and is blown across the ground by the wind.
3. tumbleweed, plant that breaks away from its roots and is driven about by the wind as a light rolling mass, scattering seeds as it goes. Examples include pigweed (Amaranth retroflexus, a widespread weed in the western United States) and other amaranths, tumbling mustard, Russian thistle, the steppe plant Colutea arborea, and the grass Spinifex of Indonesian shores and Australian steppes.
4. Called the “white man’s plant” by some American Indians, the Russian thistle, of which the scientific name is Salsola kali, is one of several plant species known as tumbleweeds. These plants are native to arid regions of the world, primarily deserts and grasslands. Most of them are rather unattractive and are considered to be weeds. Some species, however, bear small, colorful flowers.
After the tumbleweed matures, it breaks off at the ground and is blown by the wind, scattering seeds as it tumbles. Frequently many of the loose plants become tangled and form enormous masses that are blown across the ground. A single tumbleweed usually appears to be a large ball of dead branches. Various kinds of tumbleweed are often eaten by grazing livestock. Some young tumbleweeds are used for agricultural purposes.
The treacle mustard plant (Erysimum repandum), which produces pale yellow flowers, is another variety of tumbleweed, as is the hedge mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum). Some members of the Amaranthus family, especially Amaranthus albus, are also considered tumbleweeds. Among the other plant families with species of tumbleweeds are Falcaria, Seseli, Phlomis, and Centaurea.
5. Seed Plants (Spermatophyta): Boophone disticha (Latin); ingcotho, tumbleweed, bushman’s poison bulb.
- A plant of the family Amaryllidaceae.
6. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the movies Tumbleweeds (1925) directed by King Baggot & William S. Hart; Tumbleweed (1953) directed by Nathan Juran; and the novel
S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/word/tumbleweed, https://www.etymonline.com/word/tumble#etymonline_v_18803, https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=weed (last access: 25 April 205). 2. BritDict – https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tumbleweed (last access: 25 April 205). 3. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/plant/tumbleweed (last access: 25 April 2025). 4. KidsBrit – https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/tumbleweed/277449 (last access: 25 April 205). 5. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 25 April 205). 6. IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016461/, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046469/ (last access: 25 April 205); Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Tumbleweeds-Novel-Leila-Meacham/dp/145550923X (last access: 25 April 205).
OV: tumble-weed
S: Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/word/tumbleweed (last access: 25 April 205)
SYN:
S:
CR: steppe
