Marina Dunes Preserve

Scientific name: Beach Bur-sage / Beach Bur - Ambrosia chamissonis

Family: Sunflower Family - Heliantheae(Sunflower) Tribe

Blooms: Mar - Oct

Plant Height: 15 -30 cm

Habitat: Coastal dunes

About: This common plant has bluish-green leaves that are covered in fine gray hairs, quite variable in shape, and often deeply-lobed or finely divided. It is monoecious: the small, yellow male flowers are in pendulous clusters on the upper part of the stem, while the female flowers are on the lower part of the stem, maturing into the sharp-spined burs which give the plant its common name. For an easy ID, look for the two flower types on the spike.

*For more information about the family of flowers please click here!