Jump to content

Ambrosia ilicifolia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Joseph Laferriere (talk | contribs) at 11:17, 17 May 2015 (range clarification + synonymy). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ambrosia ilicifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
A. ilicifolia
Binomial name
Ambrosia ilicifolia
Synonyms[1]
  • Franseria ilicifolia A.Gray
  • Gaertneria ilicifolia (A.Gray) Kuntze

Ambrosia ilicifolia is a species of ragweed known by the common names hollyleaf burr ragweed and hollyleaf bursage.[2]

It is native to the deserts and mountains of western Arizona, and the adjacent Sonoran Desert areas of southeastern California, Sonora and Baja California. It grows in dry washes, scrub, and other local habitats.[3][4]

Description

Ambrosia ilicifolia is a small, matted shrub under 1 metre (3.3 ft) 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.[3][5]

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.[6]

The name ilicifolia is from the Ilex, scientific name for the genus containing hollies, plus "folius," Latin for "leaf."

References

External links