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Show SPECIES OF THE MONTH Our Seas of Rabbitbrush By Pam Poulson are slightly twisted, linear and about 1/2 inch long. Both species grow from extensive systems of deep roots, sprouting straight, limber twigs to form a broomlike appearance. All species contain high concentrations of natural latex and are strongly scented with a characteristic odor, which is noticeable especially after a rain or when leaves or twigs are broken. Managet of Community Education Red Butte Garden & Arboretum he afternoon drive from Trout Creek to Callao was short, but bumpy. The rutted road curved around low hills and dived through unexpected dry washes. The rapid advance of the Deep Creek shadow mass across the valley and eastward, portended a nippy autumn night. Suddenly, leaping from the cover of tall roadside sagebrush, three pronghorn antelope decided to cross the road. Briefly pacing the bouncing Landcruiser, the pronged troop abruptly turned and sped to higher ground. Ata safe distance they paused, checking backward for pursuers. The metal monster had vanished into the dust. Ahead lay an evening of leisurely browsing among the Rabbitbrush. Golden globes of flowering Rabbitbrush ae Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus From a distance, blooming shrubs appear as golden spheres. On closer inspection, relatively individual and_ flower is insignificant. loosely together into round topped clusters at the tips of the stems. In dense stands rabbitbrush is a symptom of overgrazing. Rabbitbrush is an 1 Sicky &Rabbitbrush, Chresanms viscidiflorus AKA: Golden Eb Gray Rabbitbrush, Green Rabbitbrush, rabbit sage, yellowbrush, yellowsage. Description: Both woody with flowers that are yellow, small and in rounded or flat topped clusters at the tips of the twigs. Rubber Rabbicbrush - Two to four feet tall. Strongly scented with many branches. Stems silky or white woolly covered, Leaves numerous, straight, slen- each small Flowerhead consists of a dozen or so of _ these tiny tubular flowers, the whole no more than about 1/4 inch across. Numerous such heads are massed - -Rabbithe : ‘toed leaves. oe Rabbibach- Broom Snakeweed which has straight leaves and _ grasses (up to 73 percent). Heavy grazing by cattle from 1847 to the 1930s caused the increase of Rabbitbrush and sagebrush to domination. Although cattle and horses rate rabbitbrush low in palatability, domestic sheep, goats and wildlife will eat them. Rabbitbrush twigs are browsed by elk, pronghorn antelope and deer. Small animals eat the flowers and birds eat the seeds. Over the centuries, humans have also found rabbitbrush useful: Tea was made from the leaves for coughs, chest pains and easing the stomach. Dried leaves and flowers were boiled for a tonic. Roots were chewed as “chewing gum” to relieve hunger and thirst. A yellow dye can be made by boiling the flowerheads with alum and lichens. Add leaves and twigs for a soft olive green. The Navajo use it as thatch for sweat lodges and the Hopi use slender branches for basket making. The rubber shortage of W.W.II stimulat- increaser species--increasing under grazing by cattle and horses because of its lack of ed palatability. Descriptions of Utah's vegetation from as early as 1844 by John C. Fremont indicate that today’s Rabbitbrush/sagebrush areas of central Rabbitbrush to produce high quality rubber. Utah were once: dominated: by perennial SARI SALMON is not woody. Each can also be confised with other species of Rabbitbrush. Habitat: Sagebrush steppe or sagebrushgrass community on dry mesas and slopes. Range and Distribution: Actoss western North America, east to Nebraska. der, alternate, 3/4 to 2 inches long. research on Rabbitbrush rubber-producing plant. Unfortunately, it was estimated that the total amount of rubber in all the rabbitbrush of the West would be far too little to make extraction worthwhile. Try our new APPETIZERS from DINERS CHOICE! The Jammin Sticky Rabbitbrush - 10 to 24inches tall. as a potential Scientists found Salmon is a private club located in the lower level of blanket vast expanses of Utah's high deserts in late August and September. Keeping clear come from Greek: chrysos, gold, and thamnos, shrub, in reference to the brilliant of salty and alkaline soils to which they are intolerant, rabbitbrush is found in associa- golden-yellow flowers in fall; nauseosus, used for curing nausea; and viscid, sticky and florus, flowers. Rubber Rabbitbrush and Sticky water loss through evapo-transpiration, 22 elliptic, straight and up to two inches long, with no lobes or “toes” as the leaves of sagebrush have. Sticky Rabbitbrush is smaller than’ the Rubber Rabbitbrush, growing to only three feet tall. It has few or no hairs on bright green twigs, but protects itself from evapotranspiration with glands that secrete a resinous oil. Consequently, the entire bush distribution, with 10 species and are Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ch hamn nauseosus) and Sticky Rabbitbrush hrysothamnus viscidiflorus. Although the plants are known by many names, the common name “Rabbitbrush” comes from the fact that rabbits use it for both food and:shelter.’ The scientific names Tuesday Sep 16 STURGEON GENERAL and is so thick it can only be scraped off with a knife or fingernail. The leaves are varieties in Utah alone. The two common species of Rabbitbrush along the Wasatch and BURNING PLOW Rabbitbrush are easily distinguished from one another. Rubber Rabbitbrush grows to about five feet tall and has woody, gray brown, shallow-fissured bark which sometimes becomes shreddy when mature. Young twigs are covered with feltlike hairs, making the twigs appear white. The matted hairs act as protection from dry heat by shading the tender stems and slowing is sticky to ‘the touch. Gaturday gep 20 oe isSte, HOPPER«« ‘Light green leaves CER ESN See serre tre ee y a © SIWIL NIVINNOW In areas of less than 7 inches of rainfall, rab- bitbrush establishes its niches along roadsides. There they adapt to well-drained road base materials where adequate water is supplied by highway runoff. The high deserts of the Great Basin are considered the center of Rabbitbrush range Tuesday Sep 2 from Portland Oregon *£L39Vd tion with sagebrush. Although both rabbitbrush and sagebrush are drought tolerant, they require at least 7 inches of annual precipitation and well drained soil. Rabbitbrush is common at the bases of mountain ranges, on alluvial fans and on poor, eroded, disturbed or neglected lands. Z Place at 427 Main Street Park City Call for Info 658-FISH |