''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 ...

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 ...

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 moth The Hepialidae are a Scientific classification, family of insects in the lepidopteran Scientific classification, order. Moths of this family are often referred to as swift moths or ghost moths. Taxonomy and systematics The Hepialidae constitute ...

s ''

Phymatopus californicus ''Phymatopus californicus'', the lupine ghost moth, is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1868 and is known from the US state of California. The wingspan is about 40 mm. Rec ...

'' and '' P. hectoides''. Those of the

leaf-miner A leaf miner is any one of numerous species of insects in which the larval stage lives in, and eats, the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths (Lepidoptera), sawflies (Symphyta, a paraphyletic group which ...

moths ''

Bucculatrix dominatrix ''Bucculatrix dominatrix'' is a moth in the family Bucculatricidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from coastal central California. It was described in 1997 by Daniel Z. Rubinoff and Kendall H. Osborne. Adults have been ...

'' and '' B. seperabilis'' feed exclusively on bush baccharis (''B. pilularis''), '' B. ivella'' has been found on eastern baccharis, and '' B. variabilis'' is a

polyphagous Feeding is the process by which organisms, typically animals, obtain food. Terminology often uses either the suffixes -vore, -vory, or -vorous from Latin ''vorare'', meaning "to devour", or -phage, -phagy, or -phagous from Greek φαγε ...

species which has been recorded on various ''Baccharis''. The ''

Coleophora ''Coleophora'' is a very large genus of moths of the family Coleophoridae. It contains some 1,350 described species. The genus is represented on all continents, but the majority are found in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Many authors have t ...

'' case-bearers '' C. linosyridella'' and '' C. viscidiflorella'' are polyphagous species whose larvae have been recorded on the Bush Baccharis as well as other plants.

Caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder ...

s of the

owlet moth The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family (biology), family of moths. Taxonomically, they are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly ...

'' 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 ''Abies religiosa'', the oyamel fir or sacred fir, (known as in Spanish) is a fir native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico ( Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Sierra Madre del Sur) and western Guatemala. It grows at high elevations o ...

'' in the world's first

assisted migration Assisted migration is "the intentional establishment of populations or meta-populations beyond the boundary of a species' historic range for the purpose of tracking suitable habitats through a period of changing climate...." It is therefore a na ...

experiment that coupled upslope planting of the fir tree in anticipation of climate change forcing overwintering

Monarch butterflies The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (''Danaus plexippus'') is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. ...

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 A windbreak (shelterbelt) is a planting usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted in hedgerows around the ed ...

. Plants of this genus are rich in

terpene Terpenes () are a class of natural products consisting of compounds with the formula (C5H8)n for n ≥ 2. Terpenes are major biosynthetic building blocks. Comprising more than 30,000 compounds, these unsaturated hydrocarbons are produced predomi ...

s, and some are used in native or

folk medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...

. One that has been specifically described from Chilean and Argentinean ''Baccharis'' is viscidone. ''Baccharis'' flowers are rich in

nectar Nectar is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by Plant, plants in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollination, pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to an ...

, and several species are good

honey plant Honeybees often collect nectar, pollen, or both from the following species of plants, which are called honey plants, for making honey. This is not an exhaustive list of the flowering plant species Honeybees will visit. Acanthace ...

s. Particularly '' B. dracunculifolia'' is highly esteemed by beekeepers.

Conservation

A few ''Baccharis'' species (especially from the northern

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

) are almost

extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...

due to

habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

. The northernmost occurrence of ''B. halimifolia'', in Nova Scotia, Canada, is also receiving conservation attention.

Invasiveness

Some ''Baccharis'' species, particularly Eastern baccharis (''B. halimifolia''), have become

invasive weed An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native species ...

s 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. * '' 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 ''Baccharis articulata'' is a species of shrub in the family Asteraceae. The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, but was later reclassified by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon in 1807. The species is used for a variety of medical use ...

'' (Lam.) Pers. * '' Baccharis auriculigera'' Hieron. * ''

Baccharis × australis ''Baccharis'' is a genus of perennials and shrubs 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 brooms. They are n ...

'' F.H.Hellw. * '' Baccharis axillaris'' DC. * '' Baccharis ayacuchensis'' Cuatrec. * '' Baccharis barragensis'' Cuatrec. * '' Baccharis beckii'' Joch.Müll. * ''

Baccharis bicolor ''Baccharis'' is a genus of perennials and shrubs 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 brooms. They are n ...

'' (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 ''Baccharis dracunculifolia'' is a medical plant found in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay.Vargas Caballero, I. G., A. Lawrence & M. Eid. 2000. Árboles y arbustos para sistemas agroforestales en los Valles Interandinos de Santa Cruz 1–1 ...

'' DC. * '' Baccharis eggersii'' Hieron. * '' Baccharis emoryi'' A.Gray * '' Baccharis fusca'' Turcz. * ''

Baccharis genistelloides ''Baccharis genistelloides'' is a species of flowering plant from the family Asteraceae. It is one of the most studied species in its genus ''Baccharis'' regarding its phytochemistry and pharmacological effects. The plant species is widely used i ...

'' Pers. * '' Baccharis glomeruliflora'' * ''

Baccharis glutinosa ''Baccharis glutinosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names saltmarsh baccharis and Douglas' falsewillow. The species has a discontinuous distribution, found in western North America (California, so ...

'' * '' Baccharis gracilis'' DC. * ''

Baccharis halimifolia ''Baccharis halimifolia'' is a North American species of shrubs in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Nova Scotia, the eastern and southern United States (from Massachusetts south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma), eastern Mexico (Nu ...

'' 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 ''Baccharis'' is a genus of perennials and shrubs 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 brooms. They are n ...

'' 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 ''Baccharis'' is a genus of perennials and shrubs 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 brooms. They are n ...

'' DC. * '' Baccharis myrsinites'' * '' Baccharis neglecta'' * '' Baccharis odorata'' – Tayanka bush * '' Baccharis patagonica'' * ''

Baccharis pilularis ''Baccharis pilularis'', called coyote brush (or bush), chaparral broom, and bush baccharis, is a shrub in the family Asteraceae native to California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California. There are reports of isolated populations in New Mexi ...

'' 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 ''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 ...

'' (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. – Mulefat, seep-willow, water-wally * '' Baccharis salicina'' * ''

Baccharis sarothroides ''Baccharis sarothroides'' is a North American species of flowering shrub known by the common names broom baccharis, desertbroom, greasewood, rosin-bush and groundsel in English and "escoba amarga" or "romerillo" in Spanish. This is a spreading, ...

'' A.Gray – Broom baccharis, Desert broom * '' Baccharis semiserrata'' DC. * '' Baccharis sergiloides'' A.Gray – Desert baccharis * ''

Baccharis serrula ''Baccharis'' is a genus of perennials and shrubs 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 brooms. They are n ...

'' 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 ''Baccharis wrightii'' is a North American species of shrubs in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Wright's baccharis or false willow. It is native to northern Mexico ( Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora) and the southwestern and so ...

'' – 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 Asteraceae genera Dioecious plants Flora of the Americas