silver beach-weed
Ambrosia chamissonis

Family: Asteraceae.

Type: Perennial herbaceous plant.

Leaves: Highly dissected, curvy, pale leaves, similar to those of the lizard-tail (which is in the same family), but more wavy and more dissected.

Twig: Branches grow outward along the ground, anchoring the sand and serving to accumulate organic litter such as feathers to provide nutrients and hold moisture close to the plant.

Fruit & Flower: Brown clusters at the tips are the fruit; individual fruits are extremely spiny, which gives it the alternate name "beach bur". The male flowers are at the outermost parts of the plant, and the female flowers (and thus the fruits) are closer in.

Miscellaneous: Coastal scrub is typified by woody plants with thick but brittle stems, with light-colored leaves that are highly dissected.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.