Upright growth forms of desert bitterbrush provide cover for game animals [24].
Desert bitterbrush is a native evergreen shrub [22,24,26,28,30] that grows from 1 to 15 feet tall (0.3-4.5 m), depending on environmental conditions [28,47].
Desert bitterbrush is a deeply rooted species, with a taproot sometimes exceeding 16 feet (4.8 m) [16,28,] and very few shallow, lateral roots [21]. Because of its taproot, desert bitterbrush is drought tolerant [16,24,25].
Given sufficient moisture, desert bitterbrush is capable of producing nitrogen-fixing root nodules, although this response is not consistent [27,33,34].
Note: Desert bitterbrush has many botanical and ecological characteristics in common with antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), on which much more research has taken place. Please refer to that FEIS species summary for more general information about the genus.
Desert bitterbrush recovers from fire by sprouting from undamaged root crowns below the soil surface and by establishing from seeds cached by rodents [6,7,8,28,45].
FIRE REGIMES of the California singleleaf pinyon-California juniper woodlands in which desert bitterbrush appears are dominated by long-interval canopy fires and slow recovery [44]. Fires in desert bitterbrush habitats probably were infrequent, since fuel in sagebrush-bitterbrush and juniper-bitterbrush communities tends to be light. In decadent stands, extremely dry and windy conditions can cause a severe fire [32].
To learn more about the FIRE REGIMES in communities in which desert bitterbrush appears, refer to the FEIS summary for associated species, such as big basin sagebrush, redberry juniper (Juniperus erythrocarpa), Gambel oak, Joshua tree, singleleaf pinyon, and California juniper, under "FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS."
Desert bitterbrush grows from 900 to 10,000 feet (700-3000 m) throughout its range [8,15,28,37,38,47].
Desert bitterbrush grows on a wide variety of soils, both alkaline and acidic [28,29]. Desert bitterbrush requires excellent drainage [15] and dominates on relatively young to very deep, coarse-textured, and well-drained soils. Desert bitterbrush grows particularly well on granitic alluvial fans, pumice or cinder deposits, or well-leached deposits of old lakebeds. The plant is able to survive on very harsh sites with little soil and high insolation. Desert bitterbrush performs most poorly on clay soils or on soils with a clay pan within 2 feet (61 cm) of the surface [28].
Desert bitterbrush grows in areas with around 10 inches (254 mm) annual precipitation [37], typically drier sites than those that support antelope bitterbrush. The plant is intolerant of frequent summer water [15].
209 Bristlecone pine
238 Western juniper
239 Pinyon-juniper
243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon-juniper
K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland
K024 Juniper steppe woodlands
K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush-greasewood
K041 Creosotebush
K042 Creosotebush-bursage
210 Bitterbrush
211 Creosotebush scrub
212 Blackbush
401 Basin big sagebrush
402 Mountain big sagebrush
412 Juniper-pinyon woodland
413 Gambel oak
415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany
416 True mountain-mahogany
417 Littleleaf mountain-mahogany
421 Chokecherry-serviceberry-rose
504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland
509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association
Desert bitterbrush is considered fire tolerant [1,22,29]. Plants sprout in response to being top-killed, but can be killed if heat is sufficient to kill the root crowns [10,18,45].
Desert bitterbrush is an important forage species for livestock, deer, and pronghorn [8,16,35,48], especially in winter [30].
Desert bitterbrush is found in several semi-arid shrub types throughout its range, including blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima),
Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), chaparral, and singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla)-California juniper (Juniperus californica) woodlands [8,15,47].
In California, desert bitterbrush is commonly found with basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata), blackbrush, singleleaf pinyon, and California juniper. It also occurs with Joshua tree, creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), Stansbury cliffrose, and Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva). Shrubs often form more than 90% of the cover in desert bitterbrush stands. Perennial grasses are a minor element, and forbs are even less important [28].
In Nevada, desert bitterbrush is a component of the mountain brush community with snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), antelope bitterbrush, Stansbury cliffrose, mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), Juneberry (Amelanchier pallida), wild crab apple (Peraphyllum ramosissima), and chokecherry (P. virginiana).
In the San Gabriel Mountains of California, desert bitterbrush occurs in the sagebrush scrub community with basin big sagebrush, Joshua tree, single-leaf pinyon, rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), spiny horsebrush (Tetradymia spinosa), Nevada broomsage (Lepidospartum latisquamum), beavertail prickly-pear (Opuntia basilaris), shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia), and fourwing saltbush (A. canescens) [14].
Desert bitterbrush is browsing tolerant [30].
Crude protein content of desert bitterbrush is 9.0% [46]. Because desert bitterbrush is an evergreen shrub, its winter protein levels are generally higher than those of antelope bitterbrush and other deciduous forage [25].
AZ CA NV UT
In Utah, desert bitterbrush is generally of medium palatability to livestock and wildlife [22].
In California, palatability of desert bitterbrush is ranked excellent to good for domestic sheep, domestic goats, and deer, fair for cattle, and fair to useless for horses [35].
Desert bitterbrush is less palatable to deer than its close relative, antelope bitterbrush [12,30].
Initial growth of desert bitterbrush in southern Arizona begins in late February, yet seed does not mature until early June. In Utah, desert bitterbrush flowers in May and fruit matures by mid-July at low elevations and mid-August at high elevations [4].
Phenological development of desert bitterbrush grown in an experimental plot in Boise, Idaho, was as follows [36]:
Desert bitterbrush often sprouts vigorously following fire [6,8,28], even in dry conditions [7]. Even root crowns charred below the surface have sprouted [28]. In some studies, however, desert bitterbrush has been killed by fire [10,18,45]. The fire literature does not specify whether the decumbent or erect form of desert bitterbrush is more susceptible to fire.
Stem layering is another response to fire if heat has not killed all aboveground tissue. Layering following fire is particularly evident on burned-over areas with finer-textured rather than coarse-textured soils [28].
Following spring prescribed burns near Ely, Nevada, mean rodent desert bitterbrush seed cache densities were significantly (p=0.05) higher within the burned areas than outside. Only 2 desert bitterbrush sprouted following these prescribed burns, and they lacked vigor and died the spring following the fires. The presence of large numbers of rodent caches may result in the continued presence of desert bitterbrush on the site [45].
Tall shrub, adventitious-bud root crown
Small shrub, adventitious bud/root crown
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)
FIRE REGIMES:
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".
Desert bitterbrush regenerates by sprouting from the root crown, by stem layering, and by seed [29,37].
Seed crops are inconsistent, and germination and seedling establishment is extremely low [24,28,36,48]. Flowers are insect-pollinated and self-incompatible [36]. Seed production usually does not occur in plants younger than 10 years old [28]. Due to the large, heavy seed, desert bitterbrush is dependent on rodents and other agents for seed dispersal [10,28]. Seeds are dormant due to a hard seedcoat [9,28,48,49]. Dormancy can be overcome by stratifying seed from 5 to 6 weeks at 41 °Fahrenheit (40.5 oC). In 1 California study, Nord [28] found that seed remaining in the ground for more than 1 season rarely germinated. But in another study in Bishop, California, 60% of desert bitterbrush seeds germinated after 25 years of uncontrolled storage. Germination percentage in that study reached a high of 86% after 3 years of storage [39,40].
Stem layering is common among desert bitterbrush plants, particularly when environmental conditions (particularly high elevation) or phenotype result in a prostate life form [28].
Desert bitterbrush may also regenerate from roots severed below the soil surface, even up to 10 feet deep [28].
3 Southern Pacific Border
4 Sierra Mountains
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
12 Colorado Plateau
Desert bitterbrush is a pioneer species on some extremely eroded and volcanic rock sites [28], and a mid-seral species on moderate sites. Following fire in blackbrush-dominated sites, desert bitterbrush precedes blackbrush for at least 28 years [2,5].
Desert bitterbrush is not shade tolerant [15].
The fully documented scientific name of desert bitterbrush is Purshia glandulosa Curran (Rosaceae) [17,47]. Desert bitterbrush appears to be a hybridization of Stansbury cliffrose (P. mexicana var. stansburiana) and antelope bitterbrush (P. tridentata) [26,28,42,47].
Desert bitterbrush hybridizes with Stansbury cliffrose, antelope bitterbrush [19,22,26,28], and possibly Apache-plume (Fallugia paradoxa) [30].
Due to its ability to layer from dormant buds along the stem, desert bitterbrush is an excellent soil stabilizer [16,22,28,30]. Desert bitterbrush is useful for stabilizing soils where annual precipitation averages 11 inches (279 mm) or more [29]. With appropriate seed treatment, desert bitterbrush establishes well on disturbed sites either by seed or from transplants [29]. However, seeding can be difficult due to the dormancy of desert bitterbrush seed [48]. Desert bitterbrush can be propagated from stem cuttings. Cuttings should be collected in early spring or in August and September and treated with 0.8 to 2.0 IBA powder [16].
Purshia glandulosa ist eine Pflanzenart aus der Gattung Purshia innerhalb der Familie der Rosengewächse (Rosaceae). Von der TNC wird die Art als „ungefährdet“ („G5“) eingestuft. Englischsprachige Trivialnamen sind desert bitterbrush und Mojave antelope brush.[1]
Purshia glandulosa ist ein immergrüner Strauch, der Wuchshöhen von bis zu 4,5 Metern erreicht, der jedoch abhängig von den Umweltbedingungen oft kleiner bleibt. Er hat eine Pfahlwurzel, die bis fast 5 Meter Tiefe reichen kann, eine Anpassung an die in seinem Lebensraum herrschende Trockenheit.
Die Blüten sind weiß. Die Blütezeit reicht – abhängig von der Varietät – von Februar bis Juni.[2]
Zuweilen erzeugt die Pflanze Wurzelknöllchen, mit denen sie Stickstoff fixieren kann.
Purshia glandulosa reproduziert sich durch Samen, Absenker und Austreiben aus der Wurzelkrone. Sie kann sich auch aus Wurzelstückchen regenerieren, die mehrere Fuß tief im Boden austreiben. Eine Fortpflanzung durch Samen ist relativ selten, weil diese Samen nur eine sehr geringe Keimrate besitzen und sie nicht leicht Setzlinge erzeugen, die überlebensfähig sind. Die Samen haben eine sehr harte Schale und keimen besser, wenn sie stratifiziert wurden. Außerdem beginnen die Pflanzen erst im Alter von etwa zehn Jahren überhaupt Samen zu produzieren.[1]
Purshia glandulosa ist für den Südwesten der Vereinigten Staaten (Kalifornien, Arizona, Süd-Nevada und Utah) endemisch.[3][1] Innerhalb dieser Region kommt sie im Großen Becken, der Mojave-Wüste und im Chaparral-Strauchsteppen-Ökoton in der östlichen Sierra Nevada, den Tehachapi Mountains, den Transverse Ranges und den Peninsular Ranges vor.[2] Weitere besiedelte Lebensräume sind Pinyona-Wacholder-Wälder, Nadelwälder und Josuabaum-Gebiete.[2]
Purshia glandulosa kann viele Bodentypen besiedeln, hauptsächlich gut durchlüftete. Sie kann auch auf äußerst spärlichen Bodenschichten wie auf Felsvorsprüngen siedeln und wird auf erodierten felsigen Lebensräumen zur Pionierpflanze. Große Mengen Wassers, insbesondere im Sommer, werden von ihr nicht toleriert; sie besiedelt vorwiegend Lebensräume mit einem Jahresniederschlag von etwa 10 in (254 mm). Purshia glandulosa ist feuertolerant; sie treibt schnell aus Absenkern und Wurzelstöcken aus, nachdem die oberirdischen Teile verbrannt wurden.[1] Die Varietäten wachsen in unterschiedlichen Höhenlagen von 500 bis 3500 Metern.
Die Art Purshia glandulosa entstand als Hybriden zwischen Purshia stansburyana und Purshia tridentata. Sie wird gelegentlich für eine Varietät Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa von Purshia tridentata gehalten.[2][4] Sie kann mit beiden Elternarten erneut Hybride bilden.[1]
Die Navajo, Klamath, Paiute, Shoshonen und andere indigene Stämme nutzten Purshia glandulosa als traditionelle Heilpflanze.[5]
Die Pflanze stellt ein gutes Futtermittel für wilde Huftiere wie den Gabelbock, aber auch für Haustiere dar. Da das Laub nicht in Gänze abgeworfen wird, ist es auch im Winter verfügbar.[1]
Purshia glandulosa ist eine Pflanzenart aus der Gattung Purshia innerhalb der Familie der Rosengewächse (Rosaceae). Von der TNC wird die Art als „ungefährdet“ („G5“) eingestuft. Englischsprachige Trivialnamen sind desert bitterbrush und Mojave antelope brush.
Purshia glandulosa is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common names antelope bitterbrush, desert bitterbrush, Mojave antelope brush.[1]
The plant is endemic to the southwestern United States, where it occurs in California, Arizona, southern Nevada, and Utah.[2][3] It is found in the Great Basin region, Mojave Desert, and chaparral-sagebrush scrub ecotone in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, Eastern Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges.[4] Other habitats include pinyon-juniper woodland, conifer forest, and Joshua tree woodland.[4]
This species arose via hybridization between Purshia stansburiana (Stansbury cliffrose) and Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush) . It is sometimes considered a variety of the latter species. It can hybridize with both of its parent species.[3]
This plant can grow on many types of soils, mainly those that are well-drained. It can grow on sites that have little soil, such as rock outcrops, and it is a pioneer species of eroded rock habitat. It does not tolerate large amounts of water, especially in the summer, and it favors areas that have an annual precipitation around 10 inches. It is tolerant of fire, layering and resprouting easily after its aboveground parts burn.[3] The varieties grow from 500–3,500 metres (1,600–11,500 ft).
Purshia glandulosa is an evergreen shrub growing up to 4.5 metres (15 ft) tall, but often remaining smaller depending on environmental conditions. It has a deep taproot which may extend nearly 5 metres (16 ft) deep in the soil, an adaptation to drought. At times, the plant produces root nodules where it can fix nitrogen.
The flowers are white. The bloom period can range from February through June, depending on the variety.[4]
It reproduces by seed, by layering, and by resprouting from its root crown. It can also regenerate from root bits that are severed several feet below ground. Regeneration from seed is relatively uncommon, because its seeds have low rates of germination and they do not easily yield seedlings that will survive. The seeds have a very hard coat and germinate better if they are stratified. Also, the plant does not produce seed until it is approximately 10 years old.[3]
Named varieties of the species include:
The Navajo, Klamath, Paiute, Shoshoni, and other Native American tribes used it as a traditional medicinal plant.[9]
The plant is a good forage for wild ungulates such as pronghorn, as well as livestock. It is not deciduous, so its foliage is available to animals in the winter.[3]
Purshia glandulosa is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common names antelope bitterbrush, desert bitterbrush, Mojave antelope brush.
Purshia glandulosa es una planta herbácea perteneciente a la familia de las rosáceas. Es nativa del sudoeste de los Estados Unidos, en California, Arizona, sur de Nevada, y Utah.[1]
Esta especie es un híbrido entre Purshia stansburyana y Purshia tridentata, a veces se considera una variedad de esta última especie. Se puede hibridar con ambas de sus especies matrices.[1]
Es un árbol de hoja perenne o arbusto que crece hasta 4,5 metros de altura, pero a menudo queda más pequeño dependiendo de las condiciones ambientales. Tiene una profunda raíz pivotante que puede llegar a casi 5 metros de profundidad en el suelo, como una adaptación a la sequía . A veces, la planta produce nódulos en la raíz donde se puede fijar nitrógeno. Se reproduce por semilla, por capas y por el rebrote de la corona de la raíz. También se puede regenerar a partir de trozos de raíces que se cortan varios metros bajo tierra. La regeneración por la semilla es relativamente poco común, debido a que sus semillas tienen bajas tasas de germinación, y no resulta fácil determinar las plántulas que sobreviven. Las semillas tienen una capa muy dura y germinan mejor si son estratificadas. Además, la planta no produce semillas hasta que tiene aproximadamente 10 años de edad.[1]
Esta planta puede crecer en muchos tipos de suelos, principalmente en aquellos que están bien drenados. Y puede crecer en sitios que tienen poca tierra, tales como afloramientos rocosos, y es una especie pionera de hábitats de roca erosionada. No tolera grandes cantidades de agua, especialmente en el verano, y favorece las áreas que tienen una precipitación anual de alrededor de 250 mm. Es tolerante al fuego, la estratificación y el rebrote se produce fácilmente después de que sus partes aéreas se han quemado.[1]
Esta planta es un buen forraje para ungulados silvestres como los berrendos, así como para el ganado. Es de hoja perennifolia, por lo que su follaje está disponible para los animales en el invierno.[1]
Purshia glandulosa fue descrita por Mary Katharine Brandegee y publicado en Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 1(3): 153, en el año 1885.[2]
Purshia: nombre genérico que debe su nombre al botánico y explorador Frederick T. Pursh (1774-1820).
glandulosa: epíteto latíno ue significa "con glándulas".
Purshia glandulosa es una planta herbácea perteneciente a la familia de las rosáceas. Es nativa del sudoeste de los Estados Unidos, en California, Arizona, sur de Nevada, y Utah.
Esta especie es un híbrido entre Purshia stansburyana y Purshia tridentata, a veces se considera una variedad de esta última especie. Se puede hibridar con ambas de sus especies matrices.
