About Baccharis brachyphylla A.Gray
Baccharis brachyphylla A.Gray is a North American shrub species in the Asteraceae family. It is commonly known as shortleaf baccharis or false willow. This species is native to the southwestern United States, including southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas, as well as northern Mexico, including Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora. It grows in desert habitats such as arroyos and canyons. It is an erect, branching shrub with green stems that reach up to 1 meter tall. Its leaves are linear or thinly lance-shaped, and measure less than 2 centimeters (0.79 inches) long. The inflorescence consists of a wide array of flower heads. This is a dioecious species, meaning male and female plants produce different flower types that look similar to one another. Both the flowers and foliage are glandular. Female flowers produce fruits that are ribbed achenes. Each achene has a fuzzy body 2–3 millimeters (0.08–0.12 inches) long, and a pappus approximately 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) long.
