[Shrub-like Members of the Sunflower Family East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Broom Snakeweed, Kindlingweed, Match Brush, Matchweed

Gutierrezia sarothrae

Synonyms: Gutierrezia diversifolia, Gutierrezia lepidota, Gutierrezia linearifolia, Gutierrezia linearis, Gutierrezia linoides, Gutierrezia longipappa, Gutierrezia pomariensis, Gutierrezia sarothrae var. pomariensis, Gutierrezia tenuis, Solidago sarothrae, Xanthocephalum sarothrae, Xanthocephalum sarothrae var. pomariense, Xanthocephalum tenue

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Matchbrush as seen along Oregon Highway 19 at Cathedral Rock, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument...........August 4, 2011.

The photo at right shows match brush as seen along US 26 east of Mitchell, OR.....Sept. 3, 1999.

Characteristics:
Match brush is small shrub or subshrub from 20 - 60 cm in height. It has numerous thin, brittle (not unlike match sticks) branches. The leaves are linear and range from 2 - 4 cm in length and 1 -2 mm wide. The inflorescences tend to be flat-topped, with the flower heads in compact clusters. The involucre is 3-4.5 mm high. The heads are radiate, with 3 -8 yellow rays. Individual rays are about 2-3 mm long. There are approximately 3-8 central disk flowers.

Habitat:
Match brush may be found in dry, open places in the plains, foothills and lowlands. Match Brush may be found at higher elevations in regions south of the Pacific Northwest.

Range:
Match brush is found from Saskatchewan and Alberta south through the western Great Plains to Mexico, and through Idaho to southeastern Washington, throughout eastern Oregon into California.

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Matchbrush as seen along Washington Highway SR14 east of Rock Creek..........August 6, 2006.

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A second, late seasonal bloom of matchbrush as seen along the Hard Stone Trail, Cottonwood Canyon State Park......October 23, 2019.

Matchbrush from US 26 east of Mitchell, OR.....Sept. 3, 1999.

Paul Slichter