''Baccharis'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
perennials
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
and
shrub
A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
s in the
aster family (Asteraceae). They are commonly known as baccharises but sometimes referred to as "brooms", because many members have small thin leaves resembling the true
broom
A broom (also known as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool, consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a ...
s. They are not at all related to these however, but belong to an entirely different lineage of
eudicot
The eudicots or eudicotyledons are flowering plants that have two seed leaves (cotyledons) upon germination. The term derives from ''dicotyledon'' (etymologically, ''eu'' = true; ''di'' = two; ''cotyledon'' = seed leaf). Historically, authors h ...
s. ''
B. halimifolia'' is commonly known as "groundsel bush", however true groundsels are found in the genus ''
Senecio
''Senecio'' is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes ragworts and groundsels.
Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus ''Senecio'' is one of the largest genera of flowering plants.
Description
Mo ...
''.
''Baccharis'', with over 500 species, is one of the largest genera in the Asteraceae.
It is found throughout the
Americas
The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...
, distributed mainly in the warmer regions of
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
,
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
,
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
and
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
, with ''B. halimifolia'' ranging northward along the Atlantic Coast to the southern tip of
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.
If present, the leaves of ''Baccharis'' are borne along the stems in alternate fashion. Flowers are usually white or pinkish. There are no
ray flower
Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fam ...
s, but many disk flowers which are either staminate or pistillate.
Some species of ''Baccharis'' are toxic to animals; in particular, consumption of ''B. coridifolia'' may lead to
necrosis
Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. The term "necrosis" came about in the mid-19th century and is commonly attributed to German pathologist Rudolf Virchow, who i ...
in the
gastrointestinal tract
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the Digestion, digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascula ...
of cattle, horses, sheep, and rabbits.
The genus ''Baccharis'' is named after
Bacchus (Dionysus), the Roman god of wine.
Classification
''Baccharis'' is related to the genera ''
Archibaccharis
''Archibaccharis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
; Species
''Archibaccharis'' is native to Mexico and Central America
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bo ...
'' and ''Heterothalamus''.
All ''Baccharis'' are
dioecious
Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...
except ''
Baccharis monoica
''Baccharis salicifolia'' is a blooming shrub native to the sage scrub community and desert southwest of the United States and northern Mexico, as well as parts of South America. Its usual common name is mule fat;Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam Ma ...
''.
Ecology
''Baccharis'' are used as food plants by the
larva
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e of some
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...
species, such as the swift moths ''Phymatopus californicus'' and ''Phymatopus hectoides, P. hectoides''. Those of the leaf-miner moths ''Bucculatrix dominatrix'' and ''Bucculatrix seperabilis, B. seperabilis'' feed exclusively on bush baccharis (''B. pilularis''), ''Bucculatrix ivella, B. ivella'' has been found on eastern baccharis, and ''Bucculatrix variabilis, B. variabilis'' is a phagy, polyphagous species which has been recorded on various ''Baccharis''. The ''Coleophora'' case-bearers ''Coleophora linosyridella, C. linosyridella'' and ''Coleophora viscidiflorella, C. viscidiflorella'' are polyphagous species whose larvae have been recorded on the Bush Baccharis as well as other plants. Caterpillars of the owlet moth ''Schinia ocularis'' feed exclusively on broom baccharis (''B. sarothroides'').
''Baccharis conferta'', native to Mexico, was chosen to serve as nurse plants to protect from frost and drought newly planted tree seedlings of ''Abies religiosa'' in the world's first assisted migration experiment that coupled upslope planting of the fir tree in anticipation of climate change forcing overwintering Monarch butterflies to seek higher elevations in central Mexico.
Uses
Several species of ''Baccharis'' are of interest for cultivation, as the dense but flexible stem structure makes for a good windbreak.
Plants of this genus are rich in terpenes, and some are used in native or folk medicine. One that has been specifically described from Chilean and Argentinean ''Baccharis'' is viscidone.
''Baccharis'' flowers are rich in nectar, and several species are good honey plants. Particularly ''Baccharis dracunculifolia, B. dracunculifolia'' is highly esteemed by beekeepers.
Conservation
A few ''Baccharis'' species (especially from the northern Andes) are almost extinct due to habitat destruction. The northernmost occurrence of ''B. halimifolia'', in Nova Scotia, Canada, is also receiving conservation attention.
Invasiveness
Some ''Baccharis'' species, particularly Baccharis halimifolia, Eastern baccharis (''B. halimifolia''), have become invasive weeds in places such as Australia and Spain, where they are not native.
Selected species
For the complete list of species see List of Baccharis species, List of ''Baccharis'' species.
* ''Baccharis acutata''
(Alain) Borhidi
* ''Baccharis alaternoides''
Kunth
* ''Baccharis albida''
Hook. & Arn.
* ''Baccharis × alboffii''
F.H.Hellw.
* ''Baccharis albolanosa''
A.S.Oliveira & Deble
* ''Baccharis aliena''
(Spreng.) Joch.Müll.
* ''Baccharis alleluia''
A.S.Oliveira & Deble
* ''Baccharis alnifolia''
Meyen & Walp.
* ''Baccharis alpestris''
Gardner
* ''Baccharis alpina''
Kunth
* ''Baccharis altimontana''
G.Heiden, Baumgratz & R.Esteves
* ''Baccharis amambayensis''
Zardini & Soria
* ''Baccharis anabelae''
(Deble) G.Heiden
* ''Baccharis angusticeps''
Dusén ex Malme
* ''Baccharis angustifolia''
Michaux
* ''Baccharis anomala''
DC.
* ''Baccharis antioquensis''
Killip & Cuatrec.
* ''Baccharis × antucensis''
F.H.Hellw.
* ''Baccharis aphylla''
DC.
* ''Baccharis apicifoliosa''
A.A.Schneid. & Boldrini
* ''Baccharis aracatubensis''
Malag. & Hatschb. ex G.M.Barroso
* ''Baccharis arbutifolia''
(Lam.) Vahl
* ''Baccharis × arcuata''
F.H.Hellw.
* ''Baccharis arenaria''
Baker
* ''Baccharis aretioides''
Turcz.
* ''Baccharis artemisioides''
Hook. & Arn.
* ''Baccharis articulata''
(Lam.) Pers.
* ''Baccharis auriculigera''
Hieron.
* ''Baccharis × australis''
F.H.Hellw.
* ''Baccharis axillaris''
DC.
* ''Baccharis ayacuchensis''
Cuatrec.
* ''Baccharis barragensis''
Cuatrec.
* ''Baccharis beckii''
Joch.Müll.
* ''Baccharis bicolor''
(Joch.Müll.) G.Heiden
* ''Baccharis bifrons
Baker
* ''Baccharis bigelovii''
A.Gray
* ''Baccharis bogotensis''
Kunth
* ''Baccharis boliviensis
(Wedd.) Cabrera
* ''Baccharis boyacensis''
Cuatrec.
* ''Baccharis brachylaenoides''
DC.
* ''Baccharis brachyphylla''
A.Gray
* ''Baccharis brachystachys''
(Baker) Malag. & J.Vidal
* ''Baccharis brevifolia''
DC.
* ''Baccharis brevipappa''
(McVaugh) G.L.Nesom
* ''Baccharis breviseta''
DC.
* ''Baccharis buchtienii''
H.Rob.
* ''Baccharis burchellii''
Baker
* ''Baccharis buxifolia''
Pers.
* ''Baccharis cabrerae''
Ariza
* ''Baccharis caespitosa''
(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.
* ''Baccharis concava''
(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.
* ''Baccharis dioica''
* ''Baccharis douglasii''
DC. – Saltmarsh baccharis, Douglas' baccharis
* ''Baccharis dracunculifolia''
DC.
* ''Baccharis eggersii''
Hieron.
* ''Baccharis emoryi''
A.Gray
* ''Baccharis fusca''
Turcz.
* ''Baccharis genistelloides''
Pers.
* ''Baccharis glomeruliflora''
* ''Baccharis glutinosa''
* ''Baccharis gracilis''
DC.
* ''Baccharis halimifolia''
L. – Eastern baccharis, groundsel bush, groundsel tree, consumption weed, cotton-seed tree, silverling
* ''Baccharis hambatensis''
Kunth
* ''Baccharis havardii''
* ''Baccharis hieronymi''
Heering
* ''Baccharis huairacajensis''
Hieron.
* ''Baccharis humilis''
Sch.Bip. ex Baker
* ''Baccharis intermedia''
DC.
* ''Baccharis intermixta''
Gardner
* ''Baccharis juncea''
(Lehm.) Desf.
* ''Baccharis klattii''
Benoist
* ''Baccharis ligustrina''
DC.
* ''Baccharis linearis''
(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. – Chilean romerillo
* ''Baccharis macraei''
Hook. & Arn.
* ''Baccharis malibuensis''
R.M.Beauch. & J.Henrickson
* ''Baccharis microdonta''
DC.
* ''Baccharis myrsinites''
* ''Baccharis neglecta''
* ''Baccharis odorata'' – Tayanka bush
* ''Baccharis patagonica''
* ''Baccharis pilularis''
DC. – Bush baccharis, coyote brush, coyote bush, chaparral broom
* ''Baccharis platypoda''
DC.
* ''Baccharis plummerae''
A.Gray
* ''Baccharis pteronioides''
* ''Baccharis punctulata''
DC.
* ''Baccharis racemosa''
(Ruiz & Pav.) DC.
* ''Baccharis rhomboidalis''
Remy
* ''Baccharis sagittalis''
* ''Baccharis salicifolia''
(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. – Mulefat, seep-willow, water-wally
* ''Baccharis salicina''
* ''Baccharis sarothroides''
A.Gray – Broom baccharis, Desert broom
* ''Baccharis semiserrata''
DC.
* ''Baccharis sergiloides''
A.Gray – Desert baccharis
* ''Baccharis serrula''
Sch.Bip.
* ''Baccharis sessifolia''
L.
* ''Baccharis sphaerocephala''
* ''Baccharis spicata''
(Lam.) Baill.
* ''Baccharis texana''
* ''Baccharis thesioides''
* ''Baccharis tricuneata''
(L.f.) Pers.
* ''Baccharis tridentata''
Vahl
* ''Baccharis trimera''
(Less.) DC.
* ''Baccharis uncinella''
DC.
* ''Baccharis vanessae''
R.M.Beauch.
* ''Baccharis wrightii'' – Wright's false willow
* ''Baccharis wurdackeana''
Malag.
* ''Baccharis xiphophylla''
Baker
* ''Baccharis zamoranensis''
Rzed.
* ''Baccharis zamudiorum''
Rzed.
* ''Baccharis zoellneri''
F.H.Hellw.
* ''Baccharis zongoensis''
Joch.Müll.
* ''Baccharis zumbadorensis''
V.M.Badillo
Formerly placed in ''Baccharis''
The following species are among the many that were considered to belong within ''Baccharis'' but are now classified in other genera:
* ''Isocoma veneta''
(Kunth) Greene (as ''B. veneta''
Kunth)
* ''Pluchea foetida''
(L.) DC. (as ''B. foetida''
L.)
* ''Pluchea indica''
(L.) Less. (as ''B. indica''
L.)
* ''Ozothamnus hookeri''
Sond. (as ''B. lepidophylla''
DC.)
* ''Vernonanthura brasiliana''
(L.) H.Rob. (as ''B. brasiliana''
L.)
* ''Vernonanthura montevidensis''
(Spreng.) H.Rob. (as ''B. montevidensis''
Spreng.)
References
Bibliography
*
External links
* Pictures o
''Baccharis rhomboidalis''
an
growing in Chile.
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Baccharis,
Asteraceae genera
Dioecious plants
Flora of the Americas