Baccharis salicifolia

(Ruiz & Pavón) Persoon

Syn. Pl. 2: 425. 1807.

Common names: Mule’s or mule fat seepwillow water wally
Illustrated
Basionym: Molina salicifolia Ruiz & Pavón Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil., 210. 1798
Synonyms: Baccharis viminea de Candolle Baccharis viminea var. atwoodii S. L. Welsh
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 31. Mentioned on page 26.

Shrubs, 30–400 cm (stems clustered). Stems spreading to ascending, green to tan, simple proximally, sparingly branched distally, striate-angled, glabrous or minutely hairy, resinous and ± resin-varnished. Leaves present at flowering (abundant, well developed); sessile or petiolate; blades lanceolate-elliptic, slightly falcate (willowlike), 30–150 × 3–20 mm, bases attenuate, margins usually finely serrate from bases to apices, sometimes entire, apices acute to acuminate, faces glabrous, gland-dotted, ± resinous. Heads in terminal, compound corymbiform arrays (often involving distal branches). Involucres hemispheric; staminate 3–6 mm, pistillate involucres 3–6 mm. Phyllaries ovate to lanceolate, 2–4 mm, margins scarious, erose or irregularly dentate, midribs distinct, medians green or reddish, apices (greenish or brownish purple) obtuse to acuminate (pale and dry, glabrous). Staminate florets (10–)17–48; corollas 4–6 mm. Pistillate florets 50–150; corollas 2–3.5 mm. Cypselae 0.8–1.5 mm, 5-nerved, glabrous; pappi 3–6 mm. 2n = 18, 36.


Phenology: Flowering (Jan–)Mar–Oct.
Habitat: Stream banks, dry washes, sandy flood plains, riparian woodlands, disturbed sites, ditches
Elevation: 30–2400 m

Distribution

V20-26-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Mexico, South America.

Discussion

Baccharis salicifolia is part of a complex that extends through the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America to Argentina and Chile (J. Cuatrecasas 1968). It is recognized by the narrowly lanceolate, willowlike, finely serrate leaves with acute or acuminate apices, smallish heads in dense clusters, reddish phyllaries, and 5-nerved cypselae. By tagging and measuring individual plants throughout the year, D. H. Wilken (1972) demonstrated that B. salicifolia has distinct seasonal forms. The North American plants were once known as B. glutinosa or B. viminea, which were differentiated from each other by differences in woodiness, leaf size and serration, and flowering time.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Baccharis salicifolia"
Scott D. Sundberg† +  and David J. Bogler +
(Ruiz & Pavón) Persoon +
Molina salicifolia +
Mule’s or mule fat +, seepwillow +  and water wally +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Mexico +  and South America. +
30–2400 m +
Stream banks, dry washes, sandy flood plains, riparian woodlands, disturbed sites, ditches +
Flowering (Jan–)Mar–Oct. +
wilken1972a +
Illustrated +
Baccharis viminea +  and Baccharis viminea var. atwoodii +
Baccharis salicifolia +
Baccharis +
species +