Genus of the Month
February
This page has been created for people who want to learn more about plants, especially in the
context of their taxonomy (Latin names, etc.). This is by no means an exhaustive list of
all available Web resources for a particular genus.
If you like this page, you might also want to visit the Land of the Glandular Trichomes
, a microscopic look at plants in the Lamiaceae family. Also, you can see my contribution to the
Conservation New England web site, entitled
"The Introduction of Non-Native Plants into Massachusetts".
This month's genus:
Baccharis
Subclass: Dicotyledoneae
Superorder: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Astereae
Number of Species: More than 20
Root: From the word "baccar", referring to a plant that produces aromatic oil in its roots.
The genus Baccharis is a genus of woody and herbaceous species originally confined to the New World. At least one species, known by the common name "Groundsel Tree" (B. halimifolia), has invaded other continents, including Australia. In America, these plants are considered non-invasive, and are often recommended for planting in wet and marshy areas.
Here are a few links to images and descriptions of different Baccharis species:
- Click here to see images of B. salicifolia (Seep Willow) from the Catalina Island Conservancy.
- The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center offers a field guide page for B. glutinosa (Sticky False-Willow), a species native to the Southwestern U.S.
- B. pilularis, or Coyote Bush, is a dioecious species (male and female flwoers are borne on separate plants) that grows in California. Brought to you by the Montara Mountain Native Plant web site.
- The Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER) has a list of potentially invasive plant species, including B. halimifolia.
References:
- Heywood, V.H., ed. Flowering Plants of the World. New York, Oxford University Press: 1993.
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