Ambrosia deltoidea

(Torrey) W. W. Payne

J. Arnold Arbor. 45: 421. 1964.

Basionym: Franseria deltoidea Torrey Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 6(2): 15. 1853
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 14. Mentioned on page 11.

Shrubs, 30–80+ cm. Stems erect. Leaves mostly alternate; petioles 5–12+ mm; blades deltate to lance-deltate, 12–25(–35) × 5–12(–18) mm, bases cuneate to truncate, margins toothed, abaxial faces ± densely tomentulose (between veins), adaxial faces sparsely tomentulose, glabrescent. Pistillate heads clustered, proximal to staminates; florets 2–3. Staminate heads: peduncles 0.5–3(–5) mm; involucres ± cup-shaped, 4–8 mm diam., tomentulose; florets 12–30+. Burs: bodies ± fusiform to globose, 3–4 mm, usually stipitate-glandular (little, if at all, tomentulose), spines 20–30+, scattered or on distal 1/2, ± subulate (the proximal basally flattened), 1–3 mm, tips usually straight, sometimes uncinate. 2n = 36.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–May.
Habitat: Sandy washes, benches
Elevation: 200–1000 m

Distribution

V21-12-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Discussion

Some specimens are intermediate for the characteristics that distinguish Ambrosia deltoidea and A. chenopodiifolia. The type of A. deltoidea may be better treated as conspecific with that of A. chenopodiifolia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.