Baccharis

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Baccharis

Baccharis salicifolia

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Baccharis L.

Species

See text.

Baccharis L. is a genus of perennials and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Sometimes referred to as "brooms" because many members have small thin leaves, they are not at all related to the true brooms. The 250-400 species occur throughout the Americas.

If present, the leaves are borne along the stems in alternate fashion. Flowers are usually white or pinkish. There are no ray flowers, but many disk flowers (which are staminate) and pistillate flowers.

Baccharis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Phymatopus californicus and Phymatopus hectoides as well as Bucculatrix leaf-miners: B. dominatrix and B. seperabilis feed exclusively on Baccharis pilularis, B. ivella feeds on B. halimifolia and B. variabilis is a polyphagous species which have been recorded on Baccharis. The Coleophora case-bearers C. linosyridella and C. viscidiflorella are also polyphagous species which have been recorded on Baccharis pilularis. Schinia ocularis feeds exclusively on B. sarothroides.

Several species are of interest for cultivation, as the dense but flexible stem structure makes for a good windbreak. Other species, particularly B. halimifolia, have become weeds in introduced areas such as Australia and Spain.

The genus is named after Bacchus, the Latin god of wine.