Persistence and Colonizing Ability of Rabbitbrush Collections in a Common Garden

Abstract

Collections of 4 subspecies of both green and gray rabbitbrush [Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. and C. nauseosus (Pallas) Britton] were grown for 10 years in a common garden located in northwest Nevada. Generally, the green rabbitbrush collections did not persist as long as the gray rabbitbrush collections. C. viscidiflorus spp. pumilus (Nutt.) Hall & Clem. had poor initial establishment and the shortest persistence of any collection tested. Only plants of C. viscidiflorus spp. latifolius (D.C. Eat.) Hall & Clem. persisted for 10 years. Among the gray rabbitbrush collections, there was considerable variation in persistence within subspecies. Plants of C. nauseosus ssp. salicifolius (Rydberg) Hall & Clem. were heavily utilized by jackrabbits (Lepus californicus). Plants of the various subspecies of green rabbitbrush were apparently never browsed by jackrabbits. Seedlings of gray rabbitbrush established naturally in the garden, especially in the plots of gray rabbitbrush.