Chamisa

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Chamisa, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Gray Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird

[formerly Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall. ex Pursh) Britt.]

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ seedling

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ closer view of stems, leaves

▲ mature plant, resuming new growth in spring/summer

▲ plant initiating flowering

▲▼ mature flowering plants

▲▼ plants in late bloom, entering seed production

▲▼ closer view of inflorescences, flowers

▲▼ closer view of initiation of fruit and seed production (tan, feathery structures)

Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird [formerly Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall. ex Pursh) Britt.], Chamisa, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Gray Rabbitbrush: (Bayer Code: CYTNA; US Code ERNA10)

· U.S. native semi-woody perennial shrub that grows about 1 to 6 feet tall, with many thin, branching stems; leaves and stems are greenish-gray or greenish-white due to many hairs

· Leaves linear to needle-like, alternate, upward pointing along stems; older drying/dried leaves often retained below green leaves near tip; leaves/stems have strong (either rubber-like or pineapple-like) odor

· Flowers are in heads are in mounded clusters at tips of stems; individual flowers are about 0.5 inch diameter with no ray florets and 4-6 yellow disk flowers per head

· Bracts below the heads are in multiple rows, lanceolate with strong, raised (keeled) midrib

· Native to western U.S. (not in Missouri); is toxic to livestock, if consumed; produces a sap that has rubber-like properties

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