''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 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 not at all related to these however, but belong to an entirely different lineage of eudicots. '' B. halimifolia'' is commonly known as "groundsel bush", however true groundsels are found in the genus '' Senecio''. ''Baccharis'', with over 500 species, is one of the largest genera in the Asteraceae. It is found throughout the

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, distributed mainly in the warmer regions of

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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, Chile and

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, with ''B. halimifolia'' ranging northward along the Atlantic Coast to the southern tip of Nova Scotia in

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. If present, the leaves of ''Baccharis'' are borne along the stems in alternate fashion. Flowers are usually white or pinkish. There are no ray flowers, 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 in the gastrointestinal tract 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'' and ''Heterothalamus''. All ''Baccharis'' are dioecious except '' Baccharis monoica''.

Ecology

''Baccharis'' are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as the swift moths '' Phymatopus californicus'' and '' P. hectoides''. Those of the leaf-miner moths '' Bucculatrix dominatrix'' and '' B. seperabilis'' feed exclusively on bush baccharis (''B. pilularis''), '' B. ivella'' has been found on eastern baccharis, and '' B. variabilis'' is a polyphagous species which has been recorded on various ''Baccharis''. The '' Coleophora'' case-bearers '' C. linosyridella'' and '' 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 '' B. dracunculifolia'' is highly esteemed by beekeepers.

Conservation

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

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) 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 Eastern baccharis (''B. halimifolia''), have become invasive weeds in places such as Australia and Spain, where they are not native.

Selected species

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