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There are a number of
Rabbitbrushes in the Four Corners area; the two most common are Chrysothamnus nauseosus
and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Both have similar
habitats, but C.
viscidiflorus ranges into the mountains more. C. nauseosus, the
most common Rabbitbrush in our area, often grows seven feet tall and
wide with a wide-spreading open crown. It
is easily distinguished by the white felt covering its twigs. C.
viscidiflorus grows to three or four feet with a tighter growth pattern;
it has sticky flowers and its leaves are twisted. Both often
sprout dozens of bushes in one area.
Rabbitbrush species are late flowering, usually in August and September when their crowns become a bright golden glow of flowers. This glow gives rise to the Latin name "Chryso" " thamnus", "golden" "bush". Thomas Nuttall named this genus in the early 19th century for its "affinity to [the genus] Chrysocoma and brilliant golden yellow flowers." |
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Chrysothamnus
depressus (Rabbitbrush) Foothills. Open woodlands, meadows. Summer, fall. This low shrub (hence "depressus", Latin for "flattened or pressed down"), can be uncommon to abundant. The plant is usually not more than a foot tall, and its flowers, as those of others in this genus, are small but occur in large numbers making the shrub attractive and conspicuous. Chrysothamnus depressus was found for science (probably in the 1830s) by Thomas Nuttall and he described it in 1848. |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence