Naming
Two subspecies have been described, ''nauseosa'' and ''consimilis''.Rubber rabbitbrush was moved from the genus ''Chrysothamnus'' to the genus ''Ericameria'' in a 1993 paper. The findings of a 2003 phylogenetic investigation of ''Ericameria'' were consistent with the move of the rubber rabbitbrush from ''Chrysothamnus'' to ''Ericameria''. The second edition of the Jepson plant manual and the USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network have adopted the name ''Ericameria nauseosa''.
Uses
The Zuni people use the blossoms ''bigelovii'' variety of the ''nauseosa'' subspecies to make a yellow dye. They use the stems to make baskets.Rubber rabbitbrush was considered as a source of rubber as early as 1904. Several studies have been conducted on the possible use of rubber rabbitbrush as a source of rubber including ones during World Wars I and II, and 1987. Currently the University of Nevada is conducting research on possible of uses of rubber rabbitbrush for biomaterial and bioenergy uses. One possible commercial use of rubber rabbitbrush would be as a source for hypoallergenic rubber for use in products designed for people with latex allergies.References:
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