About Ambrosia ilicifolia (A.Gray) W.W.Payne
Ambrosia ilicifolia is a small, matted shrub that grows to less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. Its stiff, straight branches are green, glandular, and leafy when young, and become light gray and leafless as they age. The leaves of this plant are holly-like, leathery but brittle, and oval-shaped to rounded, with edges lined by spine-tipped teeth. The leaves are green, veiny, and sticky with resin. Its inflorescence holds several spiny staminate (male) flower heads positioned next to larger pistillate (female) flower heads. Each pistillate head usually produces two fruits, which are yellow-brown burrs nearly 2 centimeters wide. Each burr is rounded, sticky, and covered in hooked spines.
