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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
ABBREVIATION :
CHRPAN
SYNONYMS :
NO-ENTRY
SCS PLANT CODE :
CHPA
COMMON NAMES :
desert rabbitbrush
Mohave rabbitbrush
catclaw rabbitbrush
black-banded rabbitbrush
sticky rabbitbrush
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name for desert rabbitbrush is
Chrysothamnus paniculatus (Gray) Hall [11,18]. There are no recognized
subspecies, varieties, or forms.
LIFE FORM :
Shrub
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
No special status
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
Julie Tesky, November 1993
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
NO-ENTRY
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Tesky, Julie L. 1993. Chrysothamnus paniculatus. In: Remainder of Citation
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Desert rabbitbrush is found in the Sonoran, Colorado, and Mojave Deserts
of south-central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah
(Washington County), and northern Arizona [2,13,16,18,22].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES40 Desert grasslands
STATES :
AZ CA NV UT
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
JOTR
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
7 Lower Basin and Range
12 Colorado Plateau
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K040 Saltbush - greasewood
K041 Creosotebush
K042 Creosotebush - bursage
K043 Paloverde - cactus shrub
K044 Creosotebush - tarbush
K053 Grama - galleta steppe
K054 Grama - tobosa prairie
K057 Galleta - three-awn shrubsteppe
K053 Grama - galleta steppe
SAF COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Desert rabbitbrush is often found in creosotebush (Larrea tridentata)
scrub, Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) woodland, and baccharis (Baccharis
spp.) desert communities [16,22]. It is commonly associated with white
burrobush (Hymenoclea salsola), desert saltbush (Atriplex polycarpa),
and catclaw acacia (Acacia greggii) [7,10].
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Desert rabbitbrush communities provide a home for many bird species. In
desert rabbitbrush washes in the Mojave Desert, winter bird densities
were 50 to 60 times higher and the number of species was eight times higher
than in the surrounding open desert. At the same site, breeding bird
densities were 15 times higher with 6 times the number of species [4].
PALATABILITY :
NO-ENTRY
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
COVER VALUE :
Some arroyo habitats where desert rabbitbrush occurs provide den sites
for the desert tortoise [14].
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Rabbitbrush species (Chrysothamnus spp.) are useful for erosion control
because of their deep roots, heavy litter production, and ability to
establish on harsh sites. They establish well naturally from seed and
artifically by transplanting [20]. Desert rabbitbrush has been used for
revegetation of sulfur mine spoils in Nevada. One year following
planting container-grown desert rabbitbrush on the Leviathan Mine in
Nevada, desert rabbitbrush showed 88 percent survival; 4 years later,
survival had decreased to 9 percent. Desert rabbitbrush can be
transplanted on spoils without site preparation [5].
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
Desert rabbitbrush reportedly has a rubber content of 2.5 percent or
more [11].
Rabbitbrush species are burned by the Hopi in religious ceremonies. The
Hopi also use them in windbreaks, for making arrows, and in wicker work.
A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers, and a green dye from the
inner bark [11].
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Desert rabbitbrush is a native, deciduous, highly-branched, rounded
shrub 2 to 6.5 feet (0.6-2 m) tall [15,16,18,22]. The leaves are 0.8 to
1 inches (0.4- 3 cm) long [22]. Desert rabbitbrush flowers are arranged
in small, densly clustered heads on the ends of numerous short branches.
Numerous small bracts are tightly assembled in a series of rows at the
base of each flower head [15,18].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Phanerophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Desert rabbitbrush reproduces by seed. Ripe achenes are easily
dislodged from the plant by wind or any abrasive action [15]. The
majority of rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) seeds are wind
disseminated. Dissemination distances ranging from 130 to 165 yards
(117-148 m) have been recorded for other species of rabbitbrush [26].
No specific information was available on germination or viability of
desert rabbitbrush seeds; however, information is available on other
rabbitbrush species [15,24,26]. Stevens and others [27] found that 80
percent of rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) seeds stored for
2 years germinated, but seeds stored for 3 and 4 years had reduced
germination of 65 and 34 percent, respectively. Seedlings of most
rabbitbrush species are easily established by shallow planting on rough
soil surfaces [15].
If consistent with other rabbitbrush species, desert rabbitbrush can
also reproduce by sprouting from the root crown [20].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Desert rabbitbrush is found along roadsides, streambanks, terraces,
sandy washes, and dry rocky slopes and arroyos at elevations between
2,500 and 4,000 feet (762-1,219 m) [1,13,14,18,22]. It can grow in
extremely poor soils and is resistant to low temperatures [25].
Rabbitbrush species are tolerant of moisture stress and salt stress [23].
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
Desert rabbitbrush flowers mainly from September through December, but
may also flower in May and June [11,16,18,22]. Seeds of many
rabbitbrush species ripen over 2 to 4 weeks, and many are dislodged from
the bush during that time. Seeds normally ripen in the late fall and
early winter [15].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Specific information is not available regarding the fire ecology and
adaptations of desert rabbitbrush. However, most rabbitbrush species
vigorously sprout from the root crown after fire and therefore establish
well on burned sites. They also have prolific seed production and
vigorous spring growth [20].
Rabbitbrush species are prolific litter producers and investigations
have shown that this has contributed to excessive fire fuels on some
sites [20].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Information is not available regarding the effects of fire on desert
rabbitbrush; however, this shrub is probably top-killed by moderate to
severe fire.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Information is not available regarding desert rabbitbrush response to
fire. However, if consistent with other rabbitbrush species, desert
rabbitbrush probably recovers well after fire by sprouting from the root
crown. Desert rabbitbrush sprouts and seedlings are probably abundant
the first years after fire.
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush
REFERENCES :
1. Anderson, Loran C. 1986. An overview of the genus Chrysothamnus
(Asteraceae). In: McArthur, E. Durant; Welch, Bruce L., compilers.
Proceedings--symposium on the biology of Artemisia and Chrysothamnus;
1984 July 9-13; Provo, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-200. Ogden, UT: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research
Station: 29-45. [328]
2. Benson, Lyman; Darrow, Robert A. 1981. The trees and shrubs of the
Southwestern deserts. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press.
[18066]
3. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
4. Berry, Kristin H. 1980. A review of the effects of off-road vehicles on
birds and other vertebrates. In: DeGraaf, Richard M., technical
coordinator. Management of western forests and grasslands for nongame
birds: Workshop proceedings; 1980 February 11-14; Salt Lake City, UT.
Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-86. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station:
451-467. [17918]
5. Butterfield, Richard I.; Tueller, Paul T. 1980. Revegetation potential
of acid mine wastes in northeastern California. Reclamation Review. 3:
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6. Dittberner, Phillip L.; Olson, Michael R. 1983. The plant information
network (PIN) data base: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and
Wyoming. FWS/OBS-83/86. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Fish and Wildlife Service. 786 p. [806]
7. England, A. Sidney; Foreman, Larry D.; Laudenslayer, William F., Jr.
1984. Composition and abundance of bird populations in riparian systems
of the California deserts. In: Warner, Richard E.; Hendrix, Kathleen M.,
eds. California riparian systems: Ecology, conservation, and productive
management. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 694-705.
[5870]
8. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
9. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
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proceedings: plant communities of southern California; 1974 May 4;
Fullerton, CA. Special Publication No. 2. Berkeley, CA: California
Native Plant Society: 125-164. [1278]
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Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2d ed. Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
12. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
American Geographical Society. 77 p. [1384]
13. McArthur, E. Durant; Meyer, Susan E. 1987. A review of the taxonomy and
distribution of Chrysothamnus. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Proceedings,
4th Utah shrub ecology workshop: The genus Chrysothamnus; 1986 September
17-18; Cedar City, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University, College of
Natural Resources: 9-17. [2718]
14. McArthur, E. Durant; Sanderson, Stewart C. 1992. A comparison between
xeroriparian and upland vegetation of Beaver Dam Slope, Utah, as desert
tortoise habitat. In: Clary, Warren P.; McArthur, E. Durant; Bedunah,
Don; Wambolt, Carl L., compilers. Proceedings--symposium on ecology and
management of riparian shrub communities; 1991 May 29-31; Sun Valley,
ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-289. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 25-31. [19091]
15. Monsen, Stephen B.; Stevens, Richard. 1987. Seed and seeding
characteristics of rabbitbrush. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed.
Proceedings, 4th Utah shrub ecology workshop: The genus Chrysothamnus;
1986 September 17-18; Cedar City, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University,
College of Natural Resources: 41-49. [2722]
16. Munz, Philip A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Berkeley, CA:
University of California Press. 1086 p. [4924]
17. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
18. Shreve, F.; Wiggins, I. L. 1964. Vegetation and flora of the Sonoran
Desert. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 2 vols. [21016]
19. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern
Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
20. Tueller, Paul E.; Payne, E. Don. 1987. The ecology and management of the
genus Chrysothamnus. In: Johnson, Kendall L., ed. Proceedings, 4th Utah
shrub ecology workshop: The genus Chrysothamnus; 1986 September 17-18;
Cedar City, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University, College of Natural
Resources: 1-8. [2717]
21. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982.
National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573]
22. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry
C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo,
UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
23. Sankhla, Narendra; Davis, Tim D.; Weber, Darrell J.; McArthur, E.
Durrant. 1987. Biology and economic botany of Chrysothamnus
(rabbitbrush): a potentially useful shrub for arid regions. J. Econ.
Tax. Bot. 10(2): 481-496. [5592]
24. Deitschman, Glenn H.; Jorgensen, Kent R.; Plummer, A. Perry. 1974.
Purshia DC. bitterbrush. In: Schopmeyer, C. S., ed. Seeds of woody
plants in the United States. Agric. Handb. 450. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 686-688. [7735]
25. Van Dersal, William R. 1938. Native woody plants of the United States,
their erosion-control and wildlife values. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture. 362 p. [4240]
26. McKell, Cyrus M. 1956. Some characteristics contributing to the
establishment of rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus spp. Corvallis, OR: Oregon
State College. 130 p. Dissertation. [1609]
27. Stevens, Richard; Jorgensen, Kent R.; Davis, James N. 1981. Viability of
seed from thirty-two shrub and forb species through fifteen years of
warehouse storage. Great Basin Naturalist. 41(3): 274-277. [2244]
Index
Related categories for Species: Chrysothamnus paniculatus
| Desert Rabbitbrush
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