Hollyleaf burr ragweed facts for kids

Ambrosia ilicifolia, also known as hollyleaf burr ragweed or hollyleaf bursage, is a type of ragweed plant. It's a unique plant found in dry, sunny places.

Where Does Hollyleaf Burr Ragweed Grow?

This interesting plant naturally grows in the dry areas of western Arizona. You can also find it in nearby desert regions like the Sonoran Desert in southeastern California, and parts of Sonora and Baja California in Mexico. It likes to live in dry riverbeds, rocky areas, and other sunny, scrubby places.

What Does Hollyleaf Burr Ragweed Look Like?

Plant Size and Branches

Ambrosia ilicifolia is a small, bushy shrub. It usually grows to be less than 1 meter (about 3 feet) tall. Its branches start out green and sticky when they are young. As they get older, they turn light gray and lose their leaves.

Unique Holly-Like Leaves

The leaves of this plant are quite special. They look a bit like the leaves of a holly plant, which is why it's called "hollyleaf." They feel tough and leathery, but they can break easily. Each leaf is oval or rounded and has sharp, spine-tipped teeth along its edges. The leaves are green, have visible veins, and feel sticky because of a natural resin.

Flowers and Fruits

The plant produces different kinds of flower heads. Some flower heads have only male parts (called staminate flowers). These are usually spiny. Other flower heads have only female parts (called pistillate flowers). These female heads are often larger.

Each female flower head usually creates two fruits. These fruits are yellow-brown and look like burrs. A burr is a prickly seed case. These burrs are almost 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. They are round, sticky, and covered in hooked spines.