Gutierrezia sarothrae

Gutierrezia sarothrae Common Names broom snakeweed Family Composites, Sunflower Flower Color Yellow Plant Type Shrub - grass Short Description Poisonous Native Yes Weed No

Broom snakeweed is a bushy, short-lived, native, perennial shrub that grows from 8 to 28 inches in height. Maximum life span approximately 20 years. Broom snakeweed is an early succession plant that becomes common place in some of the sagebrush lands after fire.

Snakeweed provides little browse for domestic livestock. During the winter it provides fair quailty browse, otherwise it is worthless and can be an indicator of overgrazing.Broom snakeweed can be toxic to domestic sheep, goats, and cattle particularly during winter or early spring when poor forage availability forces animals to consume large quantities

This plant is commonly confused with rabbitbrush, but it can be distinguished by the presence of ray flowers. Rabbitbrush plants have none, nor do the stems die back in the winter.

Southwestern Indians and Mexicans used snakeweed as a broom. Decoctions were used for indigestion. Pieces of the plant were chewed and placed on bee and wasp stings.

Source: http://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/Woody/snakeweed.htm