Taxon

Ericameria nauseosa

 
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Ericameria nauseosa - rubber rabbitbrush, chamisa
Image: Joy Mandelbaum
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Common name: rubber rabbitbrush, chamisa
Family: Asteraceae (Aster)
Synonym: Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Ericameria nauseosa subsp. nauseosa
Distribution: Central and Western North America, Northern Mexico
Habitat: Desert scrub, grasslands, pinyon-juniper and oak forests
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3 (-40 to -30 °F)
Life form: Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub
Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant
Growing Conditions: This variety of rubber rabbitbrush is shorter than other varieties. It grows in dry grasslands, badlands, salt flats, open woodlands, foothills and mountains, from lower-elevation Sonoran to subalpine zones. It is often a dominant plant in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine communities. Rubber rabbitbrush favors sunny, open sites and is particularly common on disturbed sites. It is cold hardy to at least minus 40°F, and is very tolerant of drought. It grows on a wide range of soils, including dry, sandy, gravelly or heavy clay soils with low fertility. It usually grows on moderately alkaline soils, but tolerates moderately acidic to strongly alkaline soils, and is somewhat salt tolerant. Plants establish from seed, by sprouting from epicormic buds located on the stem and root crown, and can be propagated by stem cuttings. Abundant seeds are wind-dispersed, remain viable for about 3 years, and germinate when there is adequate moisture. Spread of this fire-adapted species can be enhanced by fire. The deep root system enables soil stabilization and erosion control on degraded winter ranges, along roadsides and surface mining sites. Plants improve soil by producing large quantities of leaf litter and mulch.
Description: Rubber rabbitbrush is an erect round or pyramidal native shrub that typically reaches 1-8 feet in height and ¼-3 feet in diameter. Several branching, upright stems arise from the base. Leaves and stems may be covered with a felt-like layer of trichomes (hairs) giving them a grey-green color. Leaves are linear and narrow, arranged alternately along the stem. The plant produces pungent-smelling flat-topped or rounded clusters of small yellow flowers at the ends of the branches from August to October.
Links: Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy) • NatureServe Explorer • SEINet • Wildflower Center - Native Plant Database

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