Rabbitbrush Explained

Rabbitbrush is a common name for shrubs, principally of the western United States, in three related genera of the family Asteraceae:

• Chrysothamnus - about seven species in the United States, including Greene's rabbitbrush
• Ericameria - about six species in the United States, including gray (or rubber) and Parry's rabbitbrush
• Lorandersonia - about four species in the United States, including Bailey's rabbitbrush and spearleaf rabbitbrush

Taxonomy for these genera has changed recently; previously, the rabbitbrushes in Ericameria and Lorandersonia were included in Chrysothamnus. In each of these genera, not all species are called "rabbitbrush"; most Ericameria, for instance, are called "goldenbush", and only a minority are called "rabbitbrush".^[1]

Notes and References

1. http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=107019>L.E. Urbatsch, R.P. Roberts, and K.M. Neubig, 2006. Chrysothamnus, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds., Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 20. New York and Oxford.