Triangle-leaf bursage

Ambrosia deltoidea

Drought tolerant shrub up to 3 ft. tall with triangle shaped leaves and small inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers, blooming January to May. Occurs on well-drained sandy alluvial plains, mesas and rocky slopes; 1,000 to 4,000 ft. elevation. Common and abundant in the Sonoran Desert, occurring in pure stands or as a codominant in scrub communities with Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), Palo verde (Parkinsonia spp.) and Mesquite (Prosopis spp.). Replaced by White bursage (A. dumosa) at hotter, lower elevations. Not palatable to livestock or wildlife, but useful for erosion control and ecosystem restoration. Often the primary nurse plant for young Saguaro cactus. Highly allergenic pollen.