What is another word for mule fat?
Pronunciation: [mjˈuːl fˈat] (IPA) 
Mule fat is an unappealing name for a Californian shrub that is actually quite impressive. It is scientifically known as Baccharis salicifolia, and it grows in wetlands, streams and lakeshores. One reason for its name is that the dried stems were once used for pack saddles by mule skinners. However, there are more elegant-sounding synonyms for this plant. Some refer to its leaves, and it is thus called willow-leaved Baccharis or slender-leaf Baccharis. Other alternatives focus on its appearance, as it is sometimes dubbed coyote brush or chaparral broom. With its ability to thrive in wet soils, it also earns the name water mule fat.
