Shrub to 2 m (6 ft) tall. Twigs covered with a dense greenish or whitish felty tomentum which is often saturated with resin. Leaves alternate, sessile, entire, linear or linear-lanceolate, glabrous to tomentose, 2-6 cm (0.8-2.4 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. Flower heads small, numerous in terminal clusters. Florets five per head, yellow, corolla 7-9 mm (0.3-0.4 in) long. Achenes hairy, 5-angled, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, with a pappus of numerous fine bristles.
Distribution: If all subspecies are included, this species is found over most of the U. S. west of the 100th meridian.
Habitat: Open hills, high plains, mountain valleys.
NWI status: none
Comment: The stems contain a small amount of rubber, but not enough to be commercially important. Chrysothamnus is from a Greek phrase meaning golden shrub, and refers to the numerous golden-yellow flowers; nauseoseus refers to the unpleasant odor of the foliage.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/9/99
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