Alecrim

Baccharis dracunculifolia, known in Brazil as alecrim-do-campo or vassoura, is a dioecious evergreen shrub in the Asteraceae family, native to south-eastern South America, particularly Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. It typically grows 2 to 4 metres tall with a many-branched, broom-like habit. The leaves are alternate, linear-lanceolate, 2 to 8 cm long with entire to coarsely toothed margins, pale green and resinous, releasing a pleasant aromatic odour when crushed. The inflorescences are small, creamy-white to pale yellow flower heads borne in dense terminal panicles; the heads are unisexual, with male and female capitula on separate plants. Flowering occurs from autumn into early winter. Fruits are tiny ribbed achenes topped with a fine white pappus that aids wind dispersal. The plant favours open campo, disturbed ground, pastures and forest margins, and is the principal botanical source visited by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis.