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September 14, 2005 : Ericameria nauseosa
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Keywords: Asteraceae | Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) Nesom & Baird | near Penticton (British Columbia)
Updated February 24, 2006 at 2:17pm PST: Changed name from Chrysothamnus nauseosus to Ericameria nauseosa after reviewing Nesom, G and Baird, G. 1993. Completion of Ericameria (Asteraceae: Astereae), Diminution of Chrysothamnus. Phytologia. 75(1): 74-93. – Daniel
First of all, welcome to new readers who are discovering Botany Photo of the Day via their local public library! One of the providers of “information portals” to public libraries has selected Botany Photo of the Day as a “hot link”, so there's been a boost in new visitors from libraries across North America.
On to the plant: common rabbit-brush is distributed throughout western North America. It's a shrubby, wood-forming member of the aster (or sunflower) family, yet another display of the diversity of form and structure within this family (for more on that topic, see the entry on Raoulia australis). Perhaps not surprising, considering that the Asteraceae contain over 10% of the dicotyledonous plant species in the world.
Ethnobotanically, I note that it has been used to treat sore throats, colds and coughs. Also mentioned in that link is that it was used as chewing gum, which I'll try next time I encounter it. I have already tried another historic chewing gum, pine resin - I doubt that this could be worse.
I should mention for the sake of being complete that some taxonomists have placed this species in the genus Ericameria instead of Chrysothamnus, so after I review some of the literature, I may have to change the name of this entry.
Astute observers will note that tonal differences between the two photographs. The colour difference is attributable to one photograph being taken in direct sunlight, the other when a cloud passed by overhead.
Lastly, there will be a couple BPotD announcements in the next two weeks, at least one of which will be a “goodie” that some readers will be able to take advantage of.
Nature / Photography resource link: Photographs tagged with “Burns Bog” via Flickr seems an appropriate link given that I mentioned the fire two days ago. The still-burning fires are front page news locally and have made the national news.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at September 14, 2005 1:47 AM
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Posted by: George Trytten at September 14, 2005 6:40 AM
I was hoping you'd explain the "nauseosus" part - sounds like it might be interesting.
Posted by: Becky Meyer at September 14, 2005 8:21 AM
The epithet nauseolus refers to the aroma of the foliage, which is mildly unpleasant when sniffed up close. Roy Lancaster, a renowned English plantsman who was visiting the Botanical Garden earlier this year collected a bit of this species on his way through the southern Interior. It was not in flower at that time and he did not have a field guide, so he left it in a bag on my desk for me to identify. It was a warm day, and after a few hours the smell in my office was, well, nauseating. Needless to say, I had no trouble with the identification.
Posted by: Douglas Justice at September 14, 2005 9:55 AM
I've read two different explanations for nauseosus: one is the “smell of the plant, which is sweet and cloying, but not nauseating” via the book Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia; the other is “Nauseosus refers to the disagreeable flavor of the herbage”. I'll investigate more fully next time I encounter it, but maybe someone else who has it growing locally (or experienced it) can comment on the smell (please don't ingest any plants if you are not absolutely certain you have it identified correctly and are similarly certain it won't make you sick).
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at September 14, 2005 9:55 AM
Thanks Douglas, you hit the post button a few seconds before me!
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at September 14, 2005 9:57 AM
In Georgia this is called Rabbit Tobacco.
Posted by: forkporker at September 15, 2005 1:47 PM
My brother loves yellow flowers. He once had only yellow blooms around his house. I don't think he has heard of these, otherwise, He would have had them.
Posted by: Patricia at September 17, 2005 12:19 PM
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From whence the "nauseosus"?