British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide |
Sagebrush
(Artemisia Tridentata)
a.k.a. Big Sagebrush
'Tridentata'
arises from the fact that Sagebrush leaves have
a three pronged or 'trident' notches on the
end.
An
aromatic evergreen shrub, Sagebrush can grow
to 2 metres in height. Wwhile
the younger twigs have a hairy covering the
older branches loose their bark. Sagebrush
has a gnarled appearance
- LEAVES:
- -
thin with a triple notch at the end
- -
up to 3 cm. in length
- -
wedge shaped
- -
covered with greyish hairs on both upper and
underside
- -
often last right through the winter
- FLOWERS:
- -
very small, drab yellow
- -
3-5 disk flowers make up a head
- -
loosely grouped along the branches
- -
bloom September to mid October
- FRUIT:
- -
hair covered seeds
- HABITAT:
- -
Sagebrush grows at low to mid elevations.
- -
Sagebrush can be found in dry interior areas;
paticularly in the Kamloops, Ashcroft and
Okanagan areas.
- -
Sagebrush cannot live in alkaline soil.
- -
Sagebrush is predominant in overgrazed or
poor soils.
- FASCINATING
FACTS:
- -
the plant has multiplied dramatically, largely
because of overgrazing
- -
when burned the smoke from the leaves helps
keep away insects.
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