Size: 7 inches 2 feet (18-61 cm) or more, 3 feet (91 cm) and as wide.
Growth Form:Subshrub; woody base; heavily branched; shape rounded or spherical; upper stems generally smooth (glabrous); many branches especially above; yellow or green, brown below, green stems photosynthetic; partially deciduous in fall and winter, and/or die-back; plants resinous.
Leaves: Green leaves, blades thin, filiform or linear, secondary leaves (fascicled) emerge from axils of primary leaves; generally deciduous by flowering.
Flower Color: Yellow, golden yellow; flowers small, .25 inch (1.27 cm); flowers with resin or generally waxy; flowers on tips of stem in clusters of 3 or more; heads with both ray (1 or 2 or 5) and disk (1 to 3) florets; fruit is a cypsela with pappus.
Flowering Season: June or July to October through November or December depending on monsoon rainfall.
Elevation: 1,000 to 7,000 feet (305-2,135 m)
Habitat Preferences: Broad habitat types; dry grasslands, chaparral, desert scrub, oak or oak-pine woodlands, gravelly or rocky limestone or gypsum substrates, sand dunes; often in disturbed and over-grazed areas.
Recorded Range:Gutierrezia microcephala is native to the southwestern United States in the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan and Great Basin deserts in AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, TX, UT. I is also Native to Baja California and central and northern Mexico in Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila.
North America species range map for Threadleaf Snakeweed, Gutierrezia microcephala:
North American range map courtesy of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Click image for full size map
Genus Information: In North America there are 10 species and 11 accepted taxa overall for Gutierrezia. Worldwide, The Plant List includes
33 accepted species names and a further 30 scientific names of infraspecific rank for the genus.
The genus Gutierrezia was published in 1816 by Spanish botanist Mariano Lagasca y Segura, Director of the Real Jardin Botanico. Mariano Lagasca y Segura published the genus Gutierrezia in 1816.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 6 species of Gutierrezia, California and Utah each have 3 species, Nevada has 2 species, New Mexico has 5 species and Texas has 4 species. Data approximate and subject to revision.
Comments: Threadleaf Snakeweed, Gutierrezia microcephala is known to invade over-grazed and disturbed range-lands.
Plants of the genus Gutierrezia are commonly referred as Snakeweed or Matchweed.
Gutierrezia microcephala flowers, seeds and plants, in general may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents in search of food, shelter and protection through cover. It also may provide cover for small animals, and wildlife may eat the seeds. However, according to the U.S. Forest Service Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) “Threadleaf snakeweed has very little known value to wildlife”.
Gutierrezia microcephala may contain hight levels of selenium which may be toxic to livestock including cattle, sheep and goats.
For a comprehensive review of Gutierrezia microcephala see the USFS Fire Effects Information System, also known as: FEIS.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Bees and Insects
Gutierrezia microcephala brightly (colored flowers) and plants may be visited by butterflies, moths and other insects in search of food, nectar or cover.
According to Arizona Flora, Kearney and Peebles; Gutierrezia are “worthless plants” not even valuable for controlling soil erosion and they are “more or less poisonous to sheep and goats when eaten in quantity, but are unpalatable and are seldom grazed”. Apparently there is evidence that toxicity of Threadleaf Snakeweed increases if the plants are growing in sandy soils.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Bees and Insects
Gutierrezia microcephala brightly colored flowers and plants may be visited by butterflies, moths and other insects in search of food, nectar or cover.
Etymology:
The genus “Gutierrezia” (Gutierre'zia:) is named for Pedro Gutierrez (Rodriguez), name sometimes given as Pedro Gutierrez de Salceda, a 19th century Spanish nobleman, botanist and apothecary at the Madrid Botanical Garden called the Real Jardin Botanico founded by King Carlos III.
The genus Gutierrezia was published in 1816 by Spanish botanist Mariano Lagasca y Segura, Director of the Real Jardin Botanico. Mariano Lagasca y Segura published the genus Gutierrezia in 1816.
The species epithet “microcephala” (microceph'ala/microceph'alum:) forming small heads, a reference to their small flora heads.
Ethnobotany
Gutierrezia microcephala is used for a multitude of purposes by southwestern United States indigenous peoples.
Cahuilla Drug, Toothache Remedy; Infusion of plant used as a gargle or plant placed inside the mouth for toothaches.
Hopi Drug, Carminative; Used for 'gastric disturbances.'
Hopi Other, Cooking Tools; Used in roasting sweet corn.
Hopi Other, Decorations; Used as paho (prayer stick) decorations.
Hopi Other, Decorations; Used as prayer stick decorations.
Navajo Drug, Veterinary Aid; Poultice of plant applied to the back and legs of horses.
Tewa Drug, Carminative; Used for 'gastric disturbances.'
Tewa Other, Cooking Tools; Used in roasting sweet corn.
Tewa Other, Decorations; Used as paho (prayer stick) decorations.
See complete listing of ethno-botanical uses at Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.
