mule fat Asteraceae Baccharis
salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.
symbol: BASA4
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, lanceolate, 3 to 5 inches long, widely spaced fine teeth, maybe sticky, shiny green above, paler below.
Flower: Species is dioecious; white, 1/2 inch across, displayed in open terminal flower heads or tighter clusters from axils, appear nearly year round.
Fruit: A small achene tipped with long feathery white bristles (dandelion like), often in great abundance.
Twig: Very pithy, light brown to golden brown, sticky green when young. Leaf scars are narrow and raised.
Bark: Grayish brown shallowly ridged with reddish furrows.
Form: An up to 8 foot tall, suckering, thicket forming shrub, generally graceful.
Looks like: arrow-weed
- sandbar willow
- coyotebrush