Branching shrub of dry areas. Twigs flexible, covered with felt-like persistent tomentum. Flowers in the fall. No ray flowers. Highly variable. | ||
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General
Description:
This fall-blooming, up to 4 foot tall
shrub has twigs which due to a covering of hair
appear gray-green. It has narrow, almost grass-like gray-green leaves. It
is common among sage brush, along roadsides, steam banks, and after fires. It
has clusters of yellow flowers, usually in September which are followed by whitish
tufts of pappus. It has a sweetish, resinous smell, aromatic with an almost
pine-like odor.
Distribution:
British Columbia to Alberta, south to Texas and northern Mexico.
Habitat:
Moderately alkaline, dry, open slopes at moderate to low elevations, often in
slightly disturbed areas with sagebrush or in vacant lots.
Other:
Favorite food of white-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbits. The name means golden
shrub. Native Americans chewed the bark and wood for a chewing gum and used
a teas wash for skin sores. Fresh and dried flowers can be used as a dye–gold
colors with mordants of alum, copper or tin or chrome for a rust color, or iron
for green color. From the fall flowers, bees make a strong-flavored, amber-colored
honey.