WILDWEEDS.US

Rabbitbrush

Chrysothamnus spp.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Description: There are two prominent types of rabbitbrush in the Death Valley area which are fairly similar in appearance: rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) and black-banded rabbitbrush (Chrysothamus paniculatus). Both plants are shrubs of about five feet in height give or take a little. Both plants have yellow flowers and similar leaf size and shape. A key difference is that black-banded rabbitbrush is likely to have irregular black bands on its stem and that its leaves, stems, and flowers are resinous.

Habitat: Both rabbitbrush plants are found growing along with creosote througout the Mojave Desert and adjacent desert areas. Rubber rabbitbrush may be found up to 7,800 feet in elevation while black-banded rabbitbrush is usually found between 1000 and 5000 feet in elevation.

Flowering Season: Rubber rabbitbrush blooms from September to October and black-banded rabbitbrush blooms from June through December.

Comments: There are seven subspecies of C. nauseosus found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert and surrounding areas: albicaulis, bernardinus, ceruminosus, consimilis, holoeucus, leiospermus, and mohavensis. Native Americans are said to have used extracts from the roots of the rubber rabbitbrush to make chewing gum.

	Rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus spp. `Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)` Description: There are two prominent types of rabbitbrush in the Death Valley area which are fairly similar in appearance: rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) and black-banded rabbitbrush (Chrysothamus paniculatus). Both plants are shrubs of about five feet in height give or take a little. Both plants have yellow flowers and similar leaf size and shape. A key difference is that black-banded rabbitbrush is likely to have irregular black bands on its stem and that its leaves, stems, and flowers are resinous. Habitat: Both rabbitbrush plants are found growing along with creosote througout the Mojave Desert and adjacent desert areas. Rubber rabbitbrush may be found up to 7,800 feet in elevation while black-banded rabbitbrush is usually found between 1000 and 5000 feet in elevation. Flowering Season: Rubber rabbitbrush blooms from September to October and black-banded rabbitbrush blooms from June through December. Comments: There are seven subspecies of C. nauseosus found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert and surrounding areas: albicaulis, bernardinus, ceruminosus, consimilis, holoeucus, leiospermus, and mohavensis. Native Americans are said to have used extracts from the roots of the rubber rabbitbrush to make chewing gum.