Yellow Rabbitbrush: Nectar Oasis for Admirals, Anglewings, Metalmarks, Patches, and Skippers

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is commonly known as yellow rabbitbrush or green rabbitbrush.

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus easily accepts Zones 6 (-10 to 0° Fahrenheit; -23.3 to -17.8° Celsius) through 9 (20 to 30° Fahrenheit; -6.6 to -1.1° Celsius) on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Map, which classifies plants according to the maximum degree of coldness at which they maintain viability.

A New World plant, this member of the aster-daisy-sunflower family Asteraceae is native to western North America.

Distribution: western North America

In Canada, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is native to the west coast province of British Columbia.

In the United States, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is native to eleven western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming), and one Midwestern state, Nebraska, where it occurs in Sioux County in the northwest corner. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is found in every county in Nevada and Utah.

Habitat: various and regenerative

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus thrives even in very dry conditions and habituates to various ecosystems, from hillsides to canyons to plains. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus accepts disturbed habitats in need of regeneration from natural disasters such as fires, flooding, and mud or rock slides. A barren landscape, from natural disasters or overgrazing, quickly is transformed by Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, which comfortably establishes colonies to fill the emptiness.

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus spreads generously to a width of 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 centimeters). Its height is similarly proportioned at 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 centimeters).

This pleasantly proportioned deciduous shrub has white to green white bark with multiple branches.

Its grey-green aromatic leaves are narrow and often twist. Leaf length ranges from 0.3 to about 3 inches (1 to 7.5 centimeters). Leaf width measures 0.039 to 0.39 inches (1 to 10 millimeters).

Dense clusters of flowers emerge in cheery yellow profusion in summer and last  into autumn.

The wispily covered fruit of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus measures around 0.11 to 0.19 inches (3 to 4.8 millimeters).

Similar to an achene (Greek: ἀ, a, “without” + χαίνειν, chainein, “to gape”), this fruit, termed a cypsela (Greek: κυψέλη, kupsele, "hollow vessel"), contains, within its single chamber, a single seed, and does not dehisce (Latin: dehiscere, "to gape, open, split down"), that is, does not open spontaneously at maturity.

Typical of its family Asteraceae, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus has wisps, originating in the tissue of the outer floral envelope or calyx (Greek: κάλυξ, kalux, "outer covering"), which are attached to the fruit. These wisps, a botanical floral structure known as pappus, serve as diaspores (Greek: διασπορά, diaspora, “dispersion”), allowing the fruit to be transported by the wind, thereby increasing its dispersal range.

With its sweet, sunny welcome, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus stands out in its habitats, especially in contrast to a barren or disturbed environment. Its hardy predictability is attractive to wayfarers such as butterflies and offers respite in otherwise uninviting areas.

Many fauna fall under its charms. Butterfly guests include five regulars:

• bordered patch (Chlosyne lacinia),
• Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo),
• mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa),
• common checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis), and
• Weidemeyer's admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii).

Chlosyne lacinia is commonly known as the bordered patch butterfly.

An American native, Chlosyne lacinia ranges across the United States from southern California to Texas, thence southwards all the way into Argentina.

Occasionally Chlosyne lacinia visits Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska.

Chlosyne lacinia enjoys mesquite, oak, or pinyon woodlands as well as hilly deserts, fields, and roadsides.

Each Chlosyne lacinia is an individualized variation on a theme. The basic color scheme is black uppersides with wide bands of orange or cream and small orange or white spots.

Its wingspan is 1.375 to 2 inches (3.5 to 5.1 centimeters).

When not nectaring yellow rabbitbrush, Chlosyne lacinia favors asters (genus Aster), coneflowers (genus Echinacea and Rudbeckia), ironweeds (genus Vernonia), and zinnias (genus Zinnia).

Apodemia mormo is commonly known as Mormon metalmark butterfly.

A New World native, Apodemia mormo favors the arid western United States, including the Great Basin states of Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, and their neighbors, Arizona and California.

Apodemia mormo focuses on aridity for its habitat and basks in that environment.

Apodemia mormo is distinguished by an orange brown to black upperside with a checkering of black and white spots.

While other species have silvery spots that glisten like metal as they rapidly flap their wings, Apodemia mormo instead has white spots that pulsate like clouds against a darkened sky.

Wingspan is 0.875 to 1.25 inches (2.2 to 3.3 centimeters).

In addition to the sunny flowers of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Apodemia mormo is particularly attracted to the yellow flowers of desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata), mustards (genus Brassica), and senecios (genus Senecio).

Native to Asia, Europe, and North America, Nymphalis antiopa is commonly known as mourning cloak butterfly. As member of the Anglewing group of butterflies, mourning cloaks are recognized by the jagged outline of their wings.

Nymphalis antiopa ranges from Canada to central Mexico. Favorite habitats encompass many possibilities, from woodlands to woods’ edges, gardens, parks, open landscape, and streamsides.

Nymphalis antiopa is honored as the state insect of Montana.

Nymphalis antiopa has a rich beauty that is pleasantly memorable. Its rich brown to maroon upperside is bordered by a row of iridescent blue spots with an edging of rich cream, yellow, or white. Each forewing is strikingly ornamented with two cream, yellow, or white epaulets.

Its wingspan is 2.25 to 4 inches (5.7 to 10.1 centimeters).

Not fervently enamored of floral nectar, Nymphalis antiopa normally is attracted to sap, especially from oaks (genus Quercus), and rotting fruit. Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus is an exception to mourning cloak’s rule of snubbing floral nectar.

Pyrgus communis is commonly known as common checkered skipper.

Pyrgus communis ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico and is a familiarly fast flier throughout the continental United States.

Aspiring to sunny, open habitats with low vegetation, Pyrgus communis seeks out fields, gardens, meadows, prairies, and roadsides. Openings and trails in woods also interest Pyrgus communis.

Pyrgus communis has an unobtrusive, blue grey upperside which is checkered with white splotches.

Its petite wingspan measures 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters).

In addition to Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Pyrgus communis nectars from butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), coneflowers (genus Echinacea), ironweeds (genus Vernonia), marigolds (genus Tagetes).

Limenitis weidemeyerii is commonly known as Weidemeyer's admiral butterfly. Basilarchia weidemeyerii is its scientific synonym.

A New World native, Limenitis weidemeyerii is found in western Canada and in the western United States. Leminitis weidemeyerii prefers deciduous forests, meadows, and streamsides.

Limenitis weidemeyerii has a black upperside dramatically highlighted by a band of white and punctuated by white epaulets on the forewings and edged with white dots on the hindwings and forewings.

Wingspan is 2.25 to 3.75 inches (5.7 to 9.5 centimeters).

In addition to Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Limenitis weidemeyerii feeds on tree sap and also extracts nectar from milkweeds (genus Asclepias), euphorbias (genus Euphorbia), snowberries (genus Symphocarpus), and verbenas (genus Verbena).

In seemingly dull environments, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus springs to life and thrives, with alluring, sunny promises of satisfaction, which it delivers again and again. In fact, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus has charms of color and nectar that irresistibly tantalize even nectar-abstaining butterflies, such as the well-known mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), that normally prefer tree sap, rotting fruit, or even carrion, to floral nectar. As such, in unpopulated areas, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus practically hums with pollinator activity and brightens even monotonous landscapes with the many hues of its excited guests.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Butte County, southeastern Idaho: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_viscidiflorus_(3939348833).jpg

CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Public Domain, via USDA PLANTS Database @ http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=chvi8

Butte County, east central Idaho: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_viscidiflorus_(5446051596).jpg

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.: Steve Hurst/ARS Systematic Botany/Mycology Lab, Public Domain, via USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database @ https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/ImageLibrary/original/chvi8_004_php.jpg

Butte County, southeastern Idaho: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_viscidiflorus_(3939348833).jpg

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, southern tip of Texas: pondhawk, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/38686613@N08/4732272439/

Lange's metalmark butterfly, endemic to Northern California's Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge: Scott Flaherty/USFWS, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apodemia_mormo_langei.JPG; via U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Field Notes, California-Nevada Offices, Sep. 25, 2007, @ https://www.fws.gov/fieldnotes/regmap.cfm?arskey=22449

Lange metalmark's "Recover and Return from the Abyss--Fire Prevention," by Miriam Morrill/USFWS Wildland Urban Interface (WUI): USFWS Field Notes, Region 8, June 24, 2009, Public Domain, via USFWS Field Notes @ https://www.fws.gov/fieldnotes/print/print_report.cfm?arskey=26299

Yellowstone National Park: Richard Lund/National Park Service, Public Domain, via Yellowstone's Photo Collection @ http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/arthropods/butterflymoth/Page-2.htm

Congaree National Park, central South Carolina: Theresa Thom/National Park Service, Public Domain, via NPS Congaree National Park @ http://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=378A4683-1DD8-B71C-07E312AA6272A11B

Forest Road 144, Rio Arriba County, north central New Mexico: JerryFriedman, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limenitis_weidemeyerii_dorsal.jpg

westward toward Saddle Mountains, Lemhi Range, eastern Idaho: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_viscidiflorus.jpg; via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/3877087154/

Yellow rabbitbrush easily re-sprouts one year after fire in southeastern Idaho's sagebrush steppe: Matt Lavin, CC BY SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysothamnus_viscidiflorus_one_year_after_a_fire_in_the_sagebrush_steppe_(5886035204).jpg

sagebrush steppe, southeastern Idaho: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sagebrush_steppe_vegetation_and_jackrabbit_(5840815595).jpg

Point Lookout, Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County, southwestern Colorado: SteveHarbula, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/steveharbula/6585309209/

American Horticultural Society. A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1996.

"Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia (Geyer, 1837)."  Butterflies and Moths of North America > Species. Butterfly and Moth Information Network: Kelly Lotts and Thomas Naberhaus. Web. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

• Available at:  http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Chlosyne-lacinia

"Common Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote, 1872)." Butterflies and Moths of North America > Species. Butterfly and Moth Information Network: Kelly Lotts and Thomas Naberhaus. Web. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

• Available at:  http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pyrgus-communis

Flaherty, Scott. "Antioch Dunes NWR: Rare Butterfly Gets a Helping Hand." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Field Notes, California-Nevada Offices, Sep. 25, 2007.

• Available @ https://www.fws.gov/fieldnotes/regmap.cfm?arskey=22449

Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia. Volume I: A-K. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2003.

"Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1859)." Butterflies and Moths of North America > Species. Butterfly and Moth Information Network: Kelly Lotts and Thomas Naberhaus. Web. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

• Available at:  http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Apodemia-mormo

Morrill, Miriam. "Antioch Dunes NWR: New Fire Prevention Program Helps Conserve Endangered Butterfly." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Field Notes, California-Nevada Offices. June 24, 2009.

• Available @ https://www.fws.gov/fieldnotes/print/print_report.cfm?arskey=26299

"Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)." Butterflies and Moths of North America > Species. Butterfly and Moth Information Network: Kelly Lotts and Thomas Naberhaus. Web. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

• Available at:  http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Nymphalis-antiopa

Ortho's All About Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Books, 2001.

Roth, Sally. Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2001.

St. John, Dennis; COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo) southern mountain and prairie populations in Canada. Ottawa, Canada: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, 2002.

• Available @ https://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_mormon_metalmark_e.pdf

"Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis weidemeyerii W.H. Edwards, 1861."  Butterflies and Moths of North America > Species. Butterfly and Moth Information Network: Kelly Lotts and Thomas Naberhaus. Web. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

• Available at:  http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Limenitis-weidemeyerii