Ericameria paniculata


Ericameria paniculata is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family Asteraceae, native to the
southwestern United States. It is an evergreen yellow-flowered desert shrub.
It is known by several common names, including black-banded rabbitbrush, Mojave rabbitbrush, and punctate rabbitbrush. The stems often have black, gummy bands.

Description

Ericameria paniculata is a branching shrub reaching up to 2 meters tall. The spreading or erect stems are glandular and resinous and are often banded or splotched with black from a smut fungus Puccinia splendens. The glandular leaves are filiform up to 3.5 centimeters in length.
The inflorescence is an array of small, yellow flower heads, each of which contains 5 to 8 disc florets but no ray florets. The fruit is up to a centimeter long including its long pappus. They are wind-dispersed.
It flowers from June to December.

Range and habitat

Ericameria paniculata is native to the deserts of Arizona, Nevada, southern California, southwestern Utah. It is particularly common in the Mojave Desert.
It is found in a great variety of habitats, including disturbed areas such as roadsides. It tolerates poor soils. Its companions may include Larrea tridentata, Yucca brevifolia, Baccharis, Hymenoclea salsola, Atriplex polycarpa, and Acacia greggii.