TREES AND SHRUBS 145 



The Sunflower Family (Compositae) is by far the 

 largest of all the families represented in our region, being 

 represented by several hundred species; but most of them are 

 herbaceous plants. There are several species of shrubs, how- 

 ever, in the family, some of which are of value for one purpose 

 or another. All the shrubby species are listed below, and 

 technical descriptions are given of the plants. Only a few need 

 be mentioned here for purposes of calling special attention to 

 them. 



The Sage Brush (Artemisia spp.j occurs in one form or 

 another scattered pretty well over the plains of the whole 

 State. This name is properly applied to the shrubby species 

 of this genus, of which there are several. Artemisia tridentata 

 is perhaps the most common form, especially on the high 

 plains at the northern end of the State. Artemisia filifolia is a 

 shrub 3 to 5 feet high, with very narrow leaves, that occurs 

 on the sandy mesas of the northern part of the State. All 

 of the species of this genus are eaten by cattle, sheep, and 

 goats, and several of them are considered of the greatest im- 

 portance by stockmen. The commoner herbaceous forms, 

 which are used extensively, go under the Spanish name of 

 Estafiata among the Mexican herders, and they are valued 

 highly, especially as an early spring feed. The shrubby forms 

 to which the name Sage Brush is properly applied should not 

 be confused with the Salt Bushes*, since they are entirely dif- 

 ferent botanicallv, and not as closely related as apple trees and 

 sunflowers. 



Mariola is a Spanish name for Parthenium iiicanum, a 

 1 w shrub 2 or 3 feet high, with gray-green leaves and in- 

 conspicuous white flowers, that grows on the drier foothills 

 in the southern part of the State. This little plant is a near 

 relative of the guayule or Mexican rubber plant found in 

 Western Texas and northern Chihuahua. It contains a small 



•See Atriplex spp., page 68. 



