Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Bitterweed
Chi’ilbílátahłitsxoidíchi’i’í

Underside of flower showing typical petal arrangement of Hymenoxys vaseyi.
Patrick Alexander
Hymenoxys vaseyi

Bitterweeds are members of the aster family that grow up to five feet tall. There are several species of bitterweed on Navajo rangelands. Like other asters, the flowers have ray flowers (what look like outer petals) and disk flowers (tiny flowers in the dense center of the flower). Both ray flowers and disk flowers are in the yellow to orange spectrum. Bitterweed is toxic to livestock, but affects sheep more than other animals. Due to the bitter taste of the plant, animals generally do not eat it when there are other plants to eat.

For descriptions of specific species, consult the entries on pingue and rubberweed.

Underside of specimen of Hymenoxys odorata showing typical arrangement of the yellow petals and their trilobate tips
Patrick Alexander
Hymenoxys odorata
Entire specimen of Hymenoxys odorata showing small, bushy habit and yellow flowers
Patrick Alexander
Hymenoxys odorata
Seeds of Hymenoxys richardsonii showing fuzzy surface and tufted ends
Patrick Alexander
Hymenoxys richardsonii
Hand holding the bitterweed pulled from ground showing small, bushy habit and yellow flowers shown at side angle
Brian Muise
Hand holding the bitterweed pulled from ground showing small and yellow flowers
Hand holding the bitter bush pulled from ground showing small yellow flowers and stems.
Brian Muise
Scientific Name
Hymenoxys spp.
Plant Type
Forb
Habitats
  • Piņon-Juniper Woodland
  • Ponderosa Pine / Mixed Conifer
  • Grasslands
  • River valleys
Flower Color
Yellow
⚠
Toxic to livestock, especially sheep
For definitions, see the glossary.

Copyright 2018 New Mexico State University. Individual photographers retain all rights to their images. Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people. NMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer.

NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities as required by equal opportunity/affirmative action regulations and laws and university policy and rules. For more information please read the NMSU Notice of Non-discrimination.