Categories: Nature

Cheerleaders of Fall

I can always tell when fall is on the way here because the rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa, gets out its bright yellow pom pom flowers and cheers into the wind.

SoyBend

Centered in Bend, Oregon, my blog branches out into nature, history, and art-related topics.

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  • The name of the bush intrigues me. It must be nauseoous in some way, I suppose. I'd welcome more about this bright yellow harbringer of Fall. Lyn

    • Some think the species name refers to a bad smell. It is browsed on by wildlife but livestock don't always like the taste.

      The sap contains latex and research was done on this shrub in the past to see if it could be used as a source of rubber. Native Americans used the plant in several ways including chewing it like chewing gum.

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