Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a Eurasian species that has become established along the Boise River Greenbelt in central Boise and Garden City. In some places, notably next to Boise State University, it is actually more common than its native look-alike, red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). The most unequivocal diagnostic character is berry color: black in bloodtwig dogwood, white or pale bluish in red-osier dogwood. The leaves are also sufficiently different to aid in identification, with those of bloodtwig dogwood having fewer veins on average and a blunter apex. Care should be taken when selecting plants to propagate for restoration purposes!
Species Page
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus
Green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) can most easily be distinguished from the more common rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa, previously also in Chrysothamnus) by its twisted green leaves. In addition, stems of green rabbitbrush are glabrous (ssp. viscidiflorus) or finely short-hairy (ssp. lanceolatus), while those of rubber rabbitgrass are covered by matted felt-like hairs.
The common subspecies of green rabbitbrush occurring in the Boise Front is the narrow-leaved form of ssp. viscidiflorus.