| Ambrosia ilicifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Ambrosia |
| Species: | A. ilicifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Ambrosia ilicifolia (A.Gray) W.W.Payne |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Franseria ilicifolia |
|
Ambrosia ilicifolia is a species of ragweed known by the common names Hollyleaf Burr Ragweed and Hollyleaf Bursage.
It is native to the deserts and mountains of western Arizona and adjacent southeastern California and Baja California, where it grows in dry washes, scrub, and other local habitat. This is a small, matted shrub under a meter in height. Its stiff, straight branches are green, glandular, and leafy when young, and light gray and leafless when older. The holly-like leaves are leathery but brittle, oval-shaped to rounded, and edged with spine-tipped teeth. They are green, veiny, and sticky with resin. The inflorescence holds several spiny staminate (male) flower heads next to larger pistillate (female) heads. Each pistillate head produces usually two fruits, which are yellow-brown burrs nearly 2 centimeters wide. Each burr is rounded, sticky, and covered in hooked spines.