About Tetradymia glabrata Torr. & A.Gray
Tetradymia glabrata Torr. & A.Gray is a flowering plant species in the aster family, commonly known as littleleaf horsebrush. It is an erect, bushy shrub that can grow to a maximum height of over 1 metre (3+1⁄2 ft). Its stems are unevenly coated in white woolly fibers, with many exposed bare strips. The plant's narrow, pointed leaves are usually no longer than one centimeter, and most grow in clusters along its branches. The inflorescence holds up to seven flower heads, each enclosed by four woolly phyllaries. Every flower head contains four yellow-cream flowers, each around one centimeter long. The fruit is a hairy, ribbed achene topped with a bristly pappus. This species is native to the western United States, most commonly found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. Its native habitats include sagebrush communities, woodlands, and scrub, and it tolerates both saline and alkaline soils. It is the most toxic of all horsebrush species. Along with spineless horsebrush (Tetradymia canescens), it commonly causes illness and death in sheep, due to the presence of furanoeremophilanes and other toxic compounds. It is especially toxic when eaten together with black sagebrush (Artemisia nova).
