Growth Form:Shrub; semi-deciduous; profile form willow-like; roots suckering and forming thickets; 1 or more stems; spreading out horizontally and then becoming erect (ascending), stems striped with parallel longitudinal lines (striate) new stems green, turning tan or brownish; stems glabrous, and often with small fine hairs, stems sticky from secretion of yellowish substance (resin), often shows up as resin-varnish.
Leaves: Green; new leaves shiny, alternate on stem; blades linear or elliptic; leaves without stems or supporting stalks (sessile) or with short leaf stems (petiolate) leaf edges or margins not divided and smooth (entire) or finely and evenly serrate; leaves 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm) long, willow-like, sticky resinous and gland-dotted.
Flowering Season: January to March through October, November and December
Elevation: Up to 5,500 feet (1,600 m)
Habitat Preferences: In moist, riparian and other wetlands, riparian woodlands; springs, drainages, ditches, however, not always found with permanent water, also in dry washes and sandy flood-plains in lower and upper deserts, chaparral vegetation and sage scrub communities and disturbed areas; in Texas found in Valley & foothill waterways to 2,000 feet (600 m).
Recorded Range: Seepwillow is native to the southwestern United States in: AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, TX and UT. It is also found throughout Baja California and all of Mexico southward to parts of South America.
North America species range map for Baccharis salicifolia:
North American range map courtesy of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Click image for full size map
U.S. Weed Information: Unknown
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: Unknown
Wetland Indicator: In North America Baccharis salicifolia has the following wetland designations: Arid West, FAC; Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, FACW; Great Plains, FACW; Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast, FACW.
FAC, Facultative, Hydrophyte, Occur in wetlands and non-wetlands
FACW = Facultative Wetland, usually occur in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands
Threatened/Endangered Information: Unknown
Genus Information: In North America there are 24 species and 26 accepted taxa overall for Baccharis. World wide, The Plant List includes 430 accepted species names and includes a further 409 scientific plant names of infraspecific rank for the genus.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona and California each have 10 species of Baccharis, Nevada has 5 species, New Mexico has 13 species, Texas has 12 species, Utah has 5 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.
Comments: Mule Fat or Seepwillow is a common, mostly riparian species forming thickets along permanent water. Individual smaller numbers of plants may be encountered in dry washes after loss of surface water. Although this shrub resembles a true willow tree and is often found in the same habitat types, it is not a member of the Salicaceae or willow family.
Seeds of Baccharis salicifolia may likely be eaten by birds and small mammals.
Special Value to Native Bees, Butterflies and Insects
Yerba de Pasmo, Baccharis salicifolia attracts many types of insects that are useful for the pollination of the species. There are many kinds of insects including bees and butterflies.
Yerba de Pasmo has special Value to Native bees. This species is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees and a multitude of other small insects.
The etymology of the genus Baccharis (Bac'charis:) is uncertain and possibly named after Bacchus (Dionysus), the Greek god of fertility, wine, revelry and sacred drama.
The species epithet "salicifolia" (salicifo'lia/salicifo'lius:) means leaves like a willow or of the willow genus Salix.
The common name, Mule Fat, comes from the gold mining days when prospectors and cowboys would tie their mules to the shrub to browse.
Seepwillow has been used for several medicinal aids and other purposes by southwestern United States indigenous peoples.
Cahuilla Drug, Dermatological Aid, Leaves used in a hair wash solution to prevent baldness.
Cahuilla Drug, Gynecological Aid, Decoction of leaves and stems used as a female hygienic agent.
Cahuilla Fiber, Building Material, Limbs and branches used in house construction.
Costanoan Drug, Dermatological Aid, Infusion of leaves and twigs used as wash for scalp and hair to encourage growth.
Diegueno Drug, Dermatological Aid, Infusion of leaves used as a wash or poultice of leaves applied to bruises, wounds or insect stings.
Kawaiisu Other, Hunting & Fishing Item, Plant burned into a black powder, mixed with another ingredient and used for gun powder.
Mohave and Yuma Food, Starvation Food, Young shoots roasted and eaten as a famine food.
Navajo, Kayenta Drug, Febrifuge, Compound infusion of plants used as a lotion for chills from immersion.
See the full species account from Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.
