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Subject:

waterbush

From:

Harry Armistead

Reply-To:

Harry Armistead

Date:

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 22:40:31 +0000

Yes, that's right.  Baccharis halimifolia, sometimes also called groundsel tree (or bush), high tide bush (as is Iva), or saltwater bush.  The white seeds blow like mild snow flurries in late October.  Some of the bushes still have a few of the white fluffies even now.  Prominent along the high tide line and high areas in saltmarsh, esp. along berms due to old ditching.  Red-winged Blackbirds like to nest in them and on some of the islands, where the bushes are dense, the smaller herons, too.  Can grow ten feet high or so.  Often grows where there is also Iva frutescens (marsh alder).  Farther south they can grow inland; I believe we saw some in NE Arkansas near Cotton Plant.  I think Oklahoma has some, too.  South of Philadelphia, S of the airport, there is quite a bit along I-95.  Often it seems attractive to Monarchs.  It's an iconic plant of the saltmarsh edges. - Harry Armistead