Adenostoma fasciculatum

Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise or Greasewood) is a flowering plant found in California and Baja California. This shrub is widespread throughout the chapparal.

It is an evergreen, which grows up to 4 meters tall, with dry-looking branches. The leaves are 4-10 mm long, and 1 mm broad, with a pointed apex. These sprout in clusters (fascicles) on the branches. The leaves are shiny, with flammable oil. The branches also hold white flowers, 5 mm in diameter, with 5 petals, and long stamens. The fruit is an achene.

There are two varieties which can differ from each other. They are not considered distinct by all authors. Adenostoma fasciculatum var. fasciculatum has leaves 5-10 mm long, with a sharp apex, and hairless shoots. The other variety, Adenostoma fasciculatum var. obtusifolium has leaves 4-6 mm long, with a blunt apex, and slightly hairy shoots.

Ecology
This plant can grow well in nutrient-poor soil, and on dry, rocky outcrops, making it well at adapting, and drought tolerant. They are also found in serpentine soils, which are usually unhospitable for plants, along with slate, sand, clay, and gravelly soils. Chaparrals are known for their periodical wildfires, and like other flora of the chaparral, Adenostoma fasciculatum dries out, burns, and then recovers quickly. It also controls erosion.

This species grows in dense, monotypic stands that cover the hills of California. These thickets are sometimes called chamissal. It is the dominant species of a specific chaparral, with the toyon possibly being a co-dominant.