Common Name: 
Rabbitbrush

About a dozen species or so (but currently a good deal of taxonomic alteration) of shrubs and subshrubs, stems erect, much branched, often resinous and aromatic.  Leaves alternate, simple, linear to elliptic or oblong lanceolate, margins entire.  Flowers in heads, seldom solitary, ray florets absent or inconspicuous.  Native to western North America, especially at low elevations in the Great Basin. Note: Several Chrysothamnus species, including C. nauseous, have been transferred to Ericameria.   
Chrysothamnus: from Greek chrysos, gold, and thamnos, shrub, a reference to the golden flowers on these shrubby plants.

Pronunciation: 
kris-o-THAM-nus
Family: 
Asteraceae, Compositae