Baccharis

Taxobox
name = "Baccharis"

"Baccharis" L. is a genus of perennials and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Sometimes referred to as brooms because many members have small thin leaves, they are not at all related to the true brooms. The 250-400 species occur throughout the Americas.

If present, the leaves 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 staminate) and pistillate flowers.

"Baccharis" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including "Phymatopus californicus" and "Phymatopus hectoides" as well as "Bucculatrix" leaf-miners: "B. dominatrix" and "B. seperabilis" feed exclusively on "Baccharis pilularis", "B. ivella" feeds on "B. halimifolia" and "B. variabilis" is a polyphagous species which have been recorded on "Baccharis". The "Coleophora" case-bearers "C. linosyridella" and "C. viscidiflorella" are also polyphagous species which have been recorded on "Baccharis pilularis". "Schinia ocularis" feeds exclusively on "B. sarothroides".

Several species are of interest for cultivation, as the dense but flexible stem structure makes for a good windbreak. Other species, particularly "B. halimifolia", have become weeds in introduced areas such as Australia and Spain.

The genus is named after Bacchus, the Latin god of wine.

Selected Species

* "Baccharis douglasii" DC. (saltmarsh baccharis)
* "Baccharis dracunculifolia" DC.
* "Baccharis emoryi"
* "Baccharis genistelloides"
* "Baccharis halimifolia" (Groundsel bush)
* "Baccharis linearis" (Chilean romerillo)
* "Baccharis pilularis" (Coyote Brush)
* "Baccharis rhomboidalis"
* "Baccharis sagittalis"
* "Baccharis salicifolia" (mule-fat, seep willow)
* "Baccharis sarothroides" (broom baccharis)
* "Baccharis sergiloides" (desert baccharis)
* "Baccharis sphaerocephala" (Chilean radin)
* "Baccharis trimera" DC.

External links

* Pictures of [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/brhom.html "Baccharis rhomboidalis"] , [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/bsagi.html "Baccharis sagittalis"] and [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/baspha.html "Baccharis sphaerocephala"] growing in Chile.