Major General James G. Blunt

Chrysothamnus, known as rabbitbrush, rabbitbush, and chamisa, are a genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae.^[2][3][4] The native distribution is in the arid western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. It is known for its bright white or yellow flowers in late summer.^[1]

Chrysothamnus may grow up to a 120 cm (47 in) tall shrub or subshrub, usually with woody stem bases.^[1] The leaves are alternate, sessile or with short petioles, with entire edges. The flowerheads are singular or in clusters. Each composite flower often has five to 6 (though sometimes upwards of 40) yellow disc florets and no ray florets.^[1]

Chrysothamnus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora linosyridella, Coleophora viscidiflorella (which have both been recorded on C. viscidiflorus) and Schinia walsinghami.^{[citation needed]}

Species^[5][6]

• Chrysothamnus depressus – dwarf rabbitbrush, longflower rabbitbrush – California Nevada Arizona Utah Colorado New Mexico
• Chrysothamnus eremobius – pintwater rabbitbrush, remote rabbitbrush – Nevada
• Chrysothamnus greenei – Greene's rabbitbrush – California Nevada Arizona Utah Colorado New Mexico Wyoming
• Chrysothamnus humilis – Truckee rabbitbrush – California Nevada Oregon Washington Idaho
• Chrysothamnus molestus – Arizona rabbitbrush – Arizona
• Chrysothamnus scopulorum – Arizona Utah
• Chrysothamnus stylosus – Arizona Utah
• Chrysothamnus vaseyi – Vasey's rabbitbrush – Arizona Utah New Mexico Colorado Wyoming
• Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus – yellow rabbitbrush – British Columbia Washington Oregon California Arizona Nevada Idaho Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado New Mexico South Dakota Nebraska

References

External links

• CalFlora Database: Chrysothamnus (rabbitbrush)
• Jepson Manual Treatment of Chrysothamnus
• Media related to Chrysothamnus at Wikimedia Commons