tumbleweed

 

any of several plants, particularly abundant in prairie and steppe regions, that commonly break from their roots at maturity and, drying into a rounded tangle of light, stiff branches, roll before the wind, covering long distances and scattering seed as they go. The Russian thistle—Salsola pestifera, of the family Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot family) and not a thistle—is one of the most frequent of the tumbleweeds. Naturalized from Asia, it has become a troublesome pest on Western prairies, although in drought years it may serve as forage in the spring before the spines form. Some other common tumbleweeds, such as Amaranthus albus or A. graecizans, are members of the family Amaranthaceae (amaranth family), naturalized from tropical America and now common weed pests in Western agricultural fields. Others are the hedge mustards (species of Sisymbrium) and several other plants of the goosefoot family, e.g., the winged pigweeds (Cycloloma) and the bugseeds (Corispermum). Tumbleweeds of the family Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Caryophyllales.

Tumbleweed were a Wollongong-based stoner rock group in Australia popular during the heady grunge years of the 1990s. As an opening band for Nirvana on their 1992 tour of Australia[1], Tumbleweed was able to reach out into the mainstream with their crunchy-psychedelica.

The original lineup included Bassist Jay Curley, Guitarists Lenny Curley and Paul Hausmeister, Drummer Steve O'Brien and Lead Singer Richard "Richie" Lewis. Members came from groups the Proton Energy Pills and The Unheard. Other bands which include members are: Richie and the Creeps, The Pink Fits, Monstrous Blues, and Leadfinger.

Official Releases:

• Captains Log (7" Single)
• Stoned (7" Single)
• Theatre of Gnomes (EP)
• WeedSeed (Seed Records, 1992)
• Tumbleweed (self-titled) (Waterfront Records, 1992)
• Galactaphonic (Polydor Records, 1995)
• Return to Earth (Polydor Records, 1996)
• Mumbo Jumbo (Universal Records Australia, 2000)

External links

• Theatre of Tumbleweed - Resurrected Tumbleweed Page With Lots of Archival Material Including Artwork
• Tumblweedoz - Myspace page with videos
• Mumbo Jumbo Review
• Tumbleweed on IMC

References

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