Triangle bur ragweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Triangle bur ragweed |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ambrosia
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| Species: |
deltoidea
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| Synonyms | |
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Ambrosia deltoidea is a flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the aster family. People often call it triangle bur ragweed, triangle bursage, or triangleleaf bursage.
Contents
Where Does Triangle Bursage Grow?
This plant is native to the Sonoran Desert region. You can find it in Mexico, specifically in Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora. Its home also extends north into Arizona in the United States.
Desert Homes of the Triangle Bursage
This shrub thrives in desert areas. This includes desert grasslands and shrublands. It is a very common plant in the Arizona Upland part of the Sonoran Desert. It is often one of the most abundant plants there.
You might see it on both higher and lower bajadas. Bajadas are gentle slopes at the base of mountains. It is most often found where these two areas meet. It likes open spaces.
Neighbors in the Desert
Triangle bursage grows on steep, rocky slopes. It shares its home with many cacti. These include the tall saguaro and paloverde trees. The yellow paloverde is one example.
Other plants nearby are condalia, ocotillo, and jatropha. You can also find different types of prickly pears.
How Triangle Bursage Spreads
This plant can easily move into grasslands. This happens especially in areas where animals have eaten too much grass. Places that are protected from grazing animals tend to have less bursage.
What Does Triangle Bursage Look Like?
Ambrosia deltoidea is a shrub. It grows from a main root called a taproot. It also has many smaller roots spreading out. The plant produces many thin branches. These branches can grow up to about half a meter (about 20 inches) tall.
Leaves and Branches
This plant often has many dead branches mixed with its living ones. It is a drought-deciduous plant. This means it loses its leaves when the weather gets very dry. This helps it save water.
The leaves are small, usually less than 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. When they are new, the branches and leaves have a thin, woolly coating. As the leaves get older, they become smooth.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant's flowers grow in a spike shape. This spike has several male flower heads. Sometimes, female flower heads grow just below these. Some female flower heads also grow on side branches.
The fruit is a small seed pod covered in spines. These spines help the seeds travel. They often stick to animals, which then carry the seeds to new places. This plant can live for about 50 years.
How Triangle Bursage Helps Other Plants
This plant acts like a "nurse plant" for other species. It provides shade for young plants growing nearby. It also helps the soil have more nitrogen, which is good for plant growth.
Protecting Young Plants
Triangle bursage also protects young seedlings. It keeps them safe from animals that might eat them. It is the main nurse plant for saguaro cacti. This is especially true in Organ Pipe National Monument.
It also helps other plants like yellow paloverde trees and ocotillo. Some types of prickly pear cacti also benefit from its protection. Most bursage plants grow close to another long-lasting plant.
Not a Snack for Animals
Animals usually do not like to eat this plant. Livestock, like cows or sheep, do not graze on it.
Allergies
However, this plant can release tiny particles into the air. These can cause skin rashes in some people. This is known as contact dermatitis.
