BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Tetradymia glabrata | Littleleaf Horsebrush 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Littleleaf horsebrush is a native, perennial, heavily branched shrub up
to 4 feet (12 dm) in height [10,13].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Littleleaf horsebrush regenerates vegetatively through root bud
sprouting, as well as sexually via wind-dispersed seeds.  After fires
regeneration is by basal stem sprouts [14].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Plants of littleleaf horsebrush occur in dry, open foothills and plains
from 2,600 to 8,000 feet (800-2,400 m) [3,10,13].  In Utah it is occurs
at elevations from 4,500 to 5,700 feet (1,370-1,740 m) and is limited to
higher valley benchlands.  Littleleaf horsebrush is found most
extensively on well-drained gentle slopes with coarse-textured soil,
varying from gravel to large boulders.  It also occurs in sandy areas
[5].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Littleleaf horsebrush persists in high seral communities and has the
ability to increase in abundance during secondary succession through
vigorously sprouting roots.  Although flowers are highly fertile,
seedlings are rarely observed in nature.  This is probably due to the
harsh environment in which the species occurs [13].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Dormant throughout the winter, littleleaf horsebrush is one of the
earliest desert range shrubs to begin growing in the spring.  Plants are
green by late March and drop leaves in early July [6].

Littleleaf horsebrush begins flowering during late April in the southern
part of its range in the Mohave Desert and during mid-June in Idaho
[13].  As is typical of many xerophytes, the flowering of littleleaf
horsebrush is correlated with distribution and rainfall.  In very dry
years some individuals or entire colonies do not bloom at all, or bloom
but fail to mature fruits.  This is probably due to decreases in water
availability [13].  One way xerophytic species cope with a short growing
season is to flower simultaneously.  Often plants of whole colonies
bloom at once or bloom within a few days of each other [13].

Related categories for Species: Tetradymia glabrata | Littleleaf Horsebrush