Saltwater Falsewillow

This is a shrub I recently noticed for the first time along Black Point Drive in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A few days later, I saw the same shrub in Satellite Beach, along the shore of the canal that runs along the south side of Cassia Drive. It turned out to be a close relative of the much more common groundsel tree (or saltbush), Baccharis halimifolia.

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Saltwater falsewillow (Baccharis angustifolia, Asteraceae)

Native

This shrub with needle-like leaves is commonly found in brackish, marshy areas near the coast of Atlantic and Gulf plains. It flowers in late summer--yellowish blossoms followed by lots of fuzzy white seedheads, similar to the groundsel tree. The flower buds in this specimen have not opened, yet.

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