LATIN NAME Gutierrezia sarothrae (synonym: Xanthocephalum sarothrae)
LONGEVITY Perennial
SEASON Warm
ORIGIN Native
DETAILS:
Bushy, evergreen shrub of halfshrub that grows from 4-16 inches in height.
Flowers from June to October.
Reproduces from seed.
Provides little browse for livestock; of minimal value to cattle and horses; can be toxic to sheep, goats, and cattle — particularly during the winter or early spring when poor forage availability forces animals to consumer large quantities. Saponins present in the foliage are responsible for the poisoning.
Can be an indicator of overgrazing.
Southwest Indians chewed pieces of the plant and placed it on bee and wasp stings.
Adapted to dry, well-drained, sandy, gravelly, or clay loam soils.
