Baccharis salicifolia

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = Mule fat

|image = Baccharis salicifolia 1.jpg

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Redonda-Martínez, R. |author2=Zacarias-Correa, AG |author3=Machuca Machuca, K. |author4=Samain, M.-S. |date=2022 |title=Baccharis salicifolia |page=e.T126029547A167073592 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T126029547A167073592.en |access-date=6 April 2023}}

|status2 = {{TNCStatus}}

|status2_system = TNC

|status2_ref = {{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144419/Baccharis_salicifolia |website=explorer.natureserve.org |access-date=6 April 2023}}

|genus = Baccharis

|species = salicifolia

|authority = (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.

|synonyms = {{species list |Molina salicifolia|Ruiz & Pav.

|Pingraea salicifolia|(Ruiz & Pav.) F.H.Hellw.}}

}}

Baccharis salicifolia is a blooming shrub native to the sage scrub community and desert southwest of the United States and northern Mexico, as well as parts of South America. Its usual common name is mule fat;Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd ed., 2013, {{ISBN|978-0-7627-8033-4}}{{rp|126}} it is also called seepwillow or water-wally. This is a large bush with sticky foliage which bears plentiful small, fuzzy, pink, or red-tinged white flowers which are highly attractive to butterflies.Soule, J.A. 2012. Butterfly Gardening in Southern Arizona. Tierra del Soule Press, Tucson, AZ It is a host plant for the larval stage of the fatal metalmark butterfly, and the adult stage also nectars on the flowers.{{Cite web |title=Baccharis salicifolia - Butterflies |url=https://calscape.org/plantleps.php?hostsloc=california&species=Baccharis+salicifolia |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=calscape.org}}

The long pointed leaves may be toothed and contain three lengthwise veins. It is most common near water sources.

The seed is wind-distributed.{{Cite web |title=Mule Fat |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/Baccharis-salicifolia.shtml |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=www.fs.usda.gov}}