Chamise

Bush, white flowers, flammable – Chamise (or greasewood) is the dominant species in chaparral, which in turn is the dominant vegetation in California. Like many chaparral species, chamise has small leathery leaves that resist water loss, making it very drought tolerant, and an enlarged, woody area at the base of the stems – a burl – that stores water and energy and facilitates rapid resprouting after a wildfire. chamise also has characteristics that seem to promote fire, such as small, resinous leaves that are highly flammable during the dry season (hence the common name greasewood)