Taxon Report

Ericameria nauseosa (Pursh) G.L. Nesom & G.I. Baird var. ceruminosa (Durand & Hilg.) G.L. Nesom & G.I. Baird

sharp-bracted rabbitbrush

Print Report

Neal Kramer

Taxon Summary

Ericameria nauseosa var. ceruminosa, commonly known as sharp-bracted rabbitbrush, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Asteraceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Great Basin scrub, Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Riparian scrub, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 780 to 1830 meters. Ericameria nauseosa var. ceruminosa is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Ericameria nauseosa (Pursh) G.L. Nesom & G.I. Baird var. ceruminosa (Durand & Hilg.) G.L. Nesom & G.I. Baird
Common Name:	sharp-bracted rabbitbrush
Family:	Asteraceae
Element Code:	PDAST2C0GD
USDA Plants Symbol:	ERNAC3
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Sep-Oct(Nov)	Sep-Oct(Nov)
Elevation:	780-1830 (2560-6005)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Great Basin scrub, Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, Pinyon and juniper woodland, Riparian scrub, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Alkaline (sometimes), Granitic (sometimes), Gravelly (often), Sandy (often)
Microhabitat Details:	Usually in dry areas within washes, river bottoms, alluvial plains, or alkaline basins on flats or gentle slopes.

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Global Rank:	G5T2T3
State Rank:	S2S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 4.2 on 2024-11-15

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by development and solar energy development. Possibly threatened by grazing and alteration of fire regimes.
Taxonomy:
Distinct from other vars. in having recurved, acuminate phyllary apices (versus erect apices that are often wide and blunt).

Selected References

Proposed addition to CRPR 4.2, G5T3 / S3 (2024)

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 3 (second series): 37–46 (1855)

Phytologia 75: 74–93 (1993)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 15 November 2025].