Ericameria paniculata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ericameria paniculata |
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Ericameria
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E. paniculata
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| Ericameria paniculata (A.Gray) Rydb.
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Ericameria paniculata is a type of flowering plant in the sunflower family, called Asteraceae. It used to be known as Chrysothamnus paniculatus. This plant is native to the southwestern United States. It is an evergreen desert shrub, meaning it stays green all year. It has bright yellow flowers.
People call this plant by a few different names. Some common names are black-banded rabbitbrush, Mojave rabbitbrush, and punctate rabbitbrush. You might notice its stems often have black, sticky bands.
What Does It Look Like?
Ericameria paniculata is a shrub that can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its branches spread out or stand straight up. The stems are a bit sticky and often have black spots or bands. These black marks come from a type of fungus called Puccinia splendens.
The leaves are thin and shaped like threads. They can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant produces many small, yellow flower heads. Each flower head contains 5 to 8 tiny flowers called disc florets. These plants do not have the larger, petal-like flowers known as ray florets.
After flowering, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is about a centimeter (0.4 inches) long. It has a long, feathery top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float away in the wind. The plant usually flowers from June to December.
Where Does It Grow?
Ericameria paniculata is found in the desert areas of the southwestern United States. This includes Arizona, Nevada, southern California, and southwestern Utah. It is very common in the Mojave Desert.
This plant can grow in many different places. You might see it along roadsides or in other areas where the ground has been disturbed. It can even grow well in poor soil.
Plant Neighbors
Ericameria paniculata often grows near other desert plants. Some of its neighbors include:
- Larrea tridentata (creosote bush)
- Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree)
- Baccharis plants
- Hymenoclea salsola (white burrobush)
- Atriplex polycarpa (desert saltbush)
- Acacia greggii (catclaw acacia)
