Persistence and Colonizing Ability of Rabbitbrush Collections in a Common Garden

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Abstract
Collections of 4 sspp. of both green and gray rabbitbrush [Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. [C. v. ssp. viscidiflorus, C. v. ssp. pumilus, c. v. ssp. puberulus, C. v. ssp. latifolius] and C. nauseosus (Pallas) Britton] [C. n ssp. consimilis, C. n. ssp. albicaulis, C. n. ssp. salicifolius, C. n. ssp. hololeucus] were grown for 10 yr in a common garden located in northwest Nevada [USA]. Generally, the green rabbitbrush collections did not persist as long as the gray rabbitbrush collections. C. viscidiflorus spp. pumilus (Nutt.) Hall and Clem. had poor initial establishment and the shortest persistence of any collection tested. Only plants of C. viscidiflorus spp. latifolius (D.C. Eat.) Hall and Clem. persisted for 10 yr. Among the gray rabbitbrush collections, there was considerable variation in persistence within subspecies. Plants of C. nauseosus ssp. salicifolius (Rydberg) Hall and 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.

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