Rabbitbrush (8)
The common name Rabbitbrush is applied to the Ericameria, Chrysothamnus and Lorandersonia genus. All have golden yellow disk flowers but otherwise have very different characteristics. Ericameria are distinguished by the dense white hairs on the stems.
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Rubber Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) A common shrub growing from 2 to 9 feet high and wide. There are a lot of varieties, 21, according to Flora of North America. Some have leaves and twigs covered in a white/grey felt, others are greener. Some lose their leaves at flowering time, others do not. Some bloom in July and have shed their seeds when others are blooming in September and October providing vivid color and a pollen source for insects late in the summer. Typically it has whitish to green flexible stems, and narrow, grayish-green leaves. The flower heads are narrow and grow in clusters of lemon-yellow to golden disk flowers with 4 to 6 disk florets which have a pungent smell when crushed.
Flora of North America reference. |
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Rubber Rabbitbrush
Photo taken on:
March 14, 2016 It is not uncommon to see these cottony galls on Rubber Rabbitbrush. These do not appear to damage the plant. The flies responsible are Aciurina bigeloviae and other Aciurina species, small "picture-winged" flies. Larvae are pale-colored maggots found within plant galls. |
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Mountain Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows to 2 feet high with long, narrow leaves extending beyond the flower heads. Flowers have 8 to 20 disc florets and grow in a long cluster. Flora of North America reference. |
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Green Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Distinguished by its twisted green leaves. It grows from knee-high to about 3 feet with smooth stems. The base of the flowers and leaves are sticky. Flower heads are in dense clusters up to 3" across. Flora of North America reference. |
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Long-flower Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows up to 18" high with small (3/4"), narrow leaves pressed against the stems. Flowers are in dense clusters at the top of the stems with pointed, tan phyllaries often with purplish markings and 5 to 6 disc florets.
Flora of North America |
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Greene's Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows to 20" high with upright green stems and bark that becomes shreddy and grey with age. Leaves are very narrow and greyish-green. Flower heads are in dense clusters no more than 1 1/2" across. Flowers have 4 to 5 disc florets. Flora of North America reference. |
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Vasey's Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows to 2 feet high with green stems that become tan. The narrow leaves are spreading and are not sticky or twisted. Flowers are in a tight cluster at the top of the stem about 2" across. Flowers have 5 to 7 disc florets. It's compact growth habit distinguishes it from Rubber Rabbitbrush. Flora of North America reference. |
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Pillar Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows to 4 feet high with green resinous stems that become gray and flaky with age. The green leaves are spreading, curving down, often folded, about ¼" wide with a prominent mid-vein. Flower heads are egg-shaped and have 3 to 5 rows of pointed light green phyllaries and 30 to 40 disc florets, which differentiate it from other Rabbitbrush. Flora of North America reference. |
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Spearleaf Rabbitbrush Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows from 2 to 12 feet high with green stems that become tan to gray. The leaves are about ¼" wide and have a prominent mid-vein and two fainter parallel veins. Flower heads grow in a flat-topped cluster at the top of the stem up to 5" across with 5 disc florets. It's wider green leaves distinguish it from Rubber Rabbitbrush. Flora of North America reference. |
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