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burrobush

Scientific Name: Ambrosia dumosa

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Ambrosia dumosa: Burrobush (and more!)

Ambrosia dumosa, commonly known as burrobush or white bursage, is a familiar sight in the arid landscapes of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico.

Common Names

  • Burrobush
  • White Bursage
  • Bur Sage
  • Burro Weed

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Ambrosia dumosa (A. Gray) Payne
  • Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
  • Synonym: Franseria dumosa Gray
  • SCS Plant Code: AMDU2

Distribution and Habitat

  • Common in the creosote-bush scrub community of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.
  • Native to the American Southwest and Northwestern Mexico.

Morphology and Growth Habits

  • A much-branched shrub.
  • Softly gray-white in appearance.
  • Stems are covered with dense, fine hairs.
  • Typically low to the ground and may appear ashy-white for much of the year.
  • Can "green-up" and flower.

Ecological Role

  • Its roots grow away from those of similar plants, preventing competition for water resources.
  • Covers large parts of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts alongside creosotebush.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "burrobush" comes from its use as food by donkeys.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden: A community where gardeners share tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
  • CalPhotos: Provides access to many images of Ambrosia dumosa.