Kingdom Plantae Tribe Astereae Scientific name Baccharis brachyphylla Rank Species | Order Asterales Genus Baccharis Higher classification Baccharis | |
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Similar Baccharis, Baccharis sergiloides, Baccharis plummerae, Daisy family, Baccharis salicina | ||
Baccharis brachyphylla is a North American species of shrubs in the daisy family, known by the common name Shortleaf baccharis or false willow. It is native to the southwestern United States (southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas) and northern Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Sonora). It grows in desert habitats such as arroyos and canyons.
This is a shrub producing erect, branching green stems up to a meter tall. The leaves are linear or thinly lance-shaped and less than 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long. The inflorescence is a wide array of flower heads. A dioecious species, the male and female plants produce different flower types which are similar in appearance. The flowers and foliage are glandular. Female flowers yield fruits which are ribbed achenes, each with a fuzzy body 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) long and a pappus about 5 millimeters long.