ASTERACEAE - - Aster Family

Baccharis halimifolia Linnaeus — Groundsel Tree or Silverling

Groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia) is a shrub or small tree to 4 m., much-branched; leaves short-stalked, obovate to oblong, 2-7 cm. long, acute, cuneate, coarsely toothed, the upper ones entire, resinous; heads 4-6 mm. long, in peduncled clusters of 3-5 forming large panicles; achenes about 1 mm. long; pappus about 8 mm. long. Groundsel-tree is dioecious, having the male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals. B. halimifolia is becoming increasingly common inland, and can be an aggressive invader in sunny sites after silvicultural disturbance.

Habitat:

Fresh and brackish marshes, marsh borders, hammocks, moist abused land, roadsides, ditches, old fields, and a wide variety of disturbed areas.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

The native range of Baccharis halimifolia (Groundsel-tree)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Baccharis halimifolia (Groundsel-tree)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.