Wiktionary
n. Any of various plants in the family Asteraceae, including most species of (taxlink Chrysothamnus genus noshow=1) and some (taxlink Ericameria genus noshow=1).
Wikipedia
Rabbitbrush is a common name for shrubs, principally of the western United States, in three related genera of the family Asteraceae:
- Chrysothamnus — about seven species in the United States, including Green rabbitbrush
- Ericameria — about six species in the United States, including Gray (or Rubber) and Parry's rabbitbrush
- Lorandersonia — about four species in the United States, including Bailey's rabbitbrush and Spearleaf rabbitbrush
Taxonomy for these genera has changed recently; previously, the rabbitbrushes in Ericameria and Lorandersonia were included in Chrysothamnus. In each of these genera, not all species are called "rabbitbrush"; most Ericameria, for instance, are called "goldenbush", and only a minority are called "rabbitbrush".
Usage examples of "rabbitbrush".
You saw far more rabbitbrush and wild mustard than bunchgrass and sage when riding up a valley grazed by beef stock instead of the deer the Jicarilla preferred to eat.
He pinched off some yellow rabbitbrush flowers and tossed them into the air just to be sure of the slight wind, then squatted again at the edge of a small open area populated by two medium-sized anthills and a cluster of prickly pear cactus.
He reined off the riverside trail into stirrup-high rabbitbrush that for them horses to browse as he uncinched his borrowed stock saddle and put it aboard the buckskin, telling the paint he was sorry those Mexican kids back at Rancho Alvera had apparently allowed it to cool off too fast.
He followed a trail that wandered uncertainly through rabbitbrush and oak scrub.
A growth of cottonwoods, tamarisks, and rabbitbrush at the lip of the wash showed where a spring flowed.
As the convoy wound around and stopped at the tower base, CID officers jumped from the two security sedans and formed a skirmish line, pointing submachine-guns at cactus and rabbitbrush.