Ericameria Laricifolia, Turpentine Bush

Ericameria laricifolia is a leafy shrub, growing up to 3 feet tall and wide, with branched, woody stems bearing many small, closely spaced leaves, which are linear and cylindrical in shape and have tiny glandular dots on their surface. The common name turpentine bush refers to the distinctive smell that the plant exudes. The all-yellow flowers form as small clusters at the top of the main stems, and they have a rather untidy appearance. Individual flowers have between 3 and 11 disc florets, about a quarter of an inch long and with two notches at the tip, and 10 to 18 slightly shorter ray florets, which open to five tiny lobes. Both types of florets have protruding, branched stigmas when mature. Phyllaries are narrow and linear, hairless and pointed at the tip. Flowers at the center of the cluster bloom first.