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].

Related categories for Species: Chrysothamnus paniculatus | Desert Rabbitbrush