Chrysothamnus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chrysothamnus |
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| Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Genus: | Chrysothamnus Nutt. |
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Chrysothamnus, also known as rabbitbrush, is a type of shrub in the sunflower family. These plants are found naturally in the dry areas of the western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. They are easy to spot because of their bright white or yellow flowers that bloom in late summer.
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What is Rabbitbrush?
Rabbitbrush plants are usually shrubs or smaller woody plants that can grow up to about 120 centimeters (nearly 4 feet) tall. They have woody stems near the ground.
How Does it Look?
The leaves of rabbitbrush grow one after another along the stem. They are either directly attached or have very short stems. The edges of the leaves are smooth. The flowers grow either alone or in groups. Each flower head is actually made up of many tiny flowers. These are usually 5 or 6 yellow disc flowers, but sometimes there can be up to 40! Rabbitbrush does not have the petal-like ray flowers that you see on a typical sunflower.
Who Uses Rabbitbrush?
Some larvae (caterpillars) of Lepidoptera species (moths and butterflies) eat rabbitbrush plants. For example, the caterpillars of Coleophora linosyridella and Coleophora viscidiflorella have been seen eating C. viscidiflorus. Another caterpillar, Schinia walsinghami, also feeds on rabbitbrush.
Different Kinds of Rabbitbrush
There are several different types of rabbitbrush. Here are some of them and where they grow:
- Chrysothamnus depressus – known as dwarf rabbitbrush or longflower rabbitbrush. You can find it in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
- Chrysothamnus eremobius – called pintwater rabbitbrush or remote rabbitbrush. It grows in Nevada.
- Chrysothamnus greenei – Greene's rabbitbrush. It's found in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
- Chrysothamnus humilis – Truckee rabbitbrush. It grows in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
- Chrysothamnus molestus – Arizona rabbitbrush. This one is found in Arizona.
- Chrysothamnus scopulorum – Found in Arizona and Utah.
- Chrysothamnus stylosus – Grows in Arizona and Utah.
- Chrysothamnus vaseyi – Vasey's rabbitbrush. It's in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.
- Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus – Also called yellow rabbitbrush. This type is widespread, found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Nebraska.
