[www.ars.usda.gov] Toxic to livestock: Halogeton, a fast-growing annual plant of the Western States, frequently causes poisoning in sheep. Cattle may be also be poisoned. Livestock readily graze mature, dried halogeton and most losses occur when hungry animals are allowed to graze in heavy stands of halogeton. It grows from 0.1 to 1 m tall depending on the moisture available during the growing season. Each plant generally has five main stems that come directly from the base of the plant. Young plants have round, fleshy leaves that grow in little bunches along the stem. It has a characteristic small hair about one mm long on the end of each leaf. During drought the stems develop a reddish tinge. The toxic substance in halogeton is sodium oxalate, which is contained in leaves and other above-ground parts. Halogeton is dangerous at all times. It becomes more toxic as the growing season advances, reaching a peak of toxicity at maturity. Losses occur from dried plant consumed during the fall, winter, and early spring. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)

[Wikipedia] Russia, Central Asia, China native: Halogeton glomeratus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names saltlover, Aral barilla, and halogeton. It is native to Russia, Central Asia and China, but the plant is probably better known in the western United States, where it is an introduced species and a notorious noxious weed.[1] This annual herb is a hardy halophyte, thriving in soils far too saline to support many other plants. It also grows in alkali soils such as those on alkali flats and disturbed, barren habitat. It can be found in sagebrush and shadscale habitat, and it grows well in areas with cold winters. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)

[Cal-IPC] Invasiveness: Halogeton glomeratus (Halogeton) is an erect winter to summer annual with small fleshy leaves (family Chenopodiaceae). It can be found throughout southern California and in all counties bordering Nevada. It has also been reported from Siskiyou and San Diego counties. Halogeton is mainly found on disturbed arid sites in salt grass, salt desert shrub, mixed desert shrub, or pinyon-juniper plant communities. Halogeton is not an extremely competitive plant, but it can quickly invade disturbed or overgrazed sites, and it can prevent reestablishment of desirable species because it can lead to salt accumulation on the soil surface. It is poisonous to livestock. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)