Halogeton glomeratus is in the Amaranthaceae. Originally in the family Chenopodiaceae, molecular phylogenetic analysis has determined this family should be merged into a more largely circumscribed Amaranthaceae. Halogeton is a noxious weed introduced to the western United States from Eurasia in the 1930s. This annual forb can grow up to 1.5 feet tall and produce copious amounts of seeds, allowing it to rapidly reproduce and colonize large areas. Aside from its invasive and ecologically disruptive nature, Halogeton is also toxic, leading to losses in livestock that may graze on this plant. The above ground tissues contain sodium oxalate which can cause internal bleeding, shock, and convulsions in animals.
