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Spearleaf Rabbitbrush - Lorandersonia linifolia
Other Names:
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus var. linifolius, Chrysothamnus linifolius
General Description
Spreading rabbitbrush is a shrub, up to 2 m (7 ft) high, with erect or ascending branches. The alternate leaves, 1-5 cm long, are narrowly elliptic and straight with entire margins. The bark is whitish and mostly glabrous, and the foliage is glabrous. Numerous flower heads are borne in flat-topped inflorescences on the branch tips. Each head has ca. 4 series of narrow, overlapping involucral bracts, 4-7 mm long, with rounded tips and numerous yellow disk corollas, 4-7 mm long. Ray flowers are lacking. The hairy seeds (achenes) have numerous thin bristles on top (pappus).
Phenology
Flowering in September.
Diagnostic Characteristics
The glabrous to sparsely hairy twigs combined with straight rather than twisted leaves separate this species from other Chrysothamnus in our area. A hand lens may be needed to determine these characters.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 3
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Moist alkaline or saline soil along rivers and streams in the valleys and on the plains.
References
- Additional ReferencesLegend:
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Henderson, S. 1997. Effects of fire on avian distributions and patterns of abundance over two vegetation types in southwest Montana : implications for managing fire for biodiversity. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 95 p.- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
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