Ambrosia dumosa (A. Gray) Payne
Burro bush, burro-weed, white bursage
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Ambrosia It is not known why this genus is named from the Greek ἀμβροσία, or “food of the gods”
Species dumosa Bushy, shrubby
About plant names...
Burro bush is common in the American southwest and northwestern Mexico. Its roots grow away from those of similar species,
to reduce contention for water. Creosote bush, common in the same habitats, secretes a chemical that inhibits the growth of
burro bush.
Identification: Burro bush reaches up to 3′ (91 cm) in height. It has many fine branches,
almost resembling a porcupine. The leaves are very irregular in shape, and pale green. They remind me of lichen. Flowers
are small and yellow. The seeds, which may be yellow, purple, or brown, are round in shape and sharp-pointed, like burs.
Burro bush flowers, from the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
Online References:
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Sonoran Desert Digital Library
CalPhotos
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
DesertUSA: Exploring the Southwest
Desert-tropicals.com
Wikimedia Commons
EFloras
The Jepson Manual
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Older scientific or horticultural names
Ambrosia dumosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Oct 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm) ID is uncertain
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
Range:
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