nimet breadcrumb-navigoinnissa
Palatability/nutritional value:
Horsebrushes
are unpalatable except early in the spring, when browsers may consume young
shoots and buds [20]. Nuttall's horsebrush is not a toxic
horsebrush species, but livestock and wildlife seldom consume it [12,33,36,38]. In
Utah its palatability is rated poor for livestock, large game animals, upland
game birds, waterfowl, and small nongame birds, and fair for small mammals [8].
Cover value:
Cover value of Nuttall's horsebrush is rated poor for pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and waterfowl, and fair
for small mammals, upland game birds, and small nongame birds of Utah [8].
Nuttall's horsebrush regenerates from seed and by sprouting
[3,4,26,37,40,42,45].
Information on breeding, seed production and viability, and seed banking is
scant for Nuttall's and other horsebrushes. Further research is needed on the
reproductive ecology of this genus.
Pollination:
Horsebrushes are pollinated by insect generalists including flies, moths, bees, and beetles
[23].
Seed dispersal:
Horsebrush seeds are wind dispersed [47]. The
hairs on horsebrush achenes and pappi aid dispersal [13].
Seedling establishment/growth:
Seedling establishment is rare in horsebrushes, probably due to harsh environments
[37].
Asexual regeneration:
Nuttall's horsebrush sprouts from the root
crown after top-kill [3,26,37,45].
