Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis
Five scaled burrobrush
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis (Five scaled burrobrush) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by fewer wings in single whorl vs multiple spiraled wings.
Five scaled burrobrush is a California native shrub found in the low desert regions in dry flats, washes, and fans at elevations below 550 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers in distinctive burred heads. Growing to moderate height with multiple branching stems, it forms a compact and resilient desert shrub. Its leaves are adapted to arid conditions, with small, dense foliage that helps the plant conserve moisture in harsh environments. The fruit is particularly notable, featuring 5 to 9 wing-like structures arranged in a central spiral, creating a unique seed dispersal mechanism characteristic of this desert plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; fewer wings in single whorl vs multiple spiraled wings
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry flats, washes, fans
Elevation: < 550 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial
Outside California: southern Nevada, southwestern Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Ambrosia produces spiny burs as fruits; Artemisia has tiny dry fruits without spines and strongly aromatic foliage.; vs Atriplex: Ambrosia has flower heads in spikes producing spiny burs; Atriplex has inconspicuous flowers with papery bracts and scurfy gray foliage.; vs Baccharis: Ambrosia has both male and female flowers on the same plant; Baccharis has male and female flowers on separate plants.; vs Eriogonum: Ambrosia has greenish flower heads producing spiny burs; Eriogonum has showy clusters of white, pink, or yellow flowers with papery bracts.; vs Salvia: Ambrosia has inconspicuous greenish flowers in the Asteraceae; Salvia has showy tubular lipped flowers typical of mints.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis native to California?
Yes. Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis bloom?
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis grow?
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of < 550 m.
What plant family does Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis belong to?
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Ambrosia.
What habitat does Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis grow in?
Ambrosia salsola var. pentalepis grows in dry flats, washes, fans.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.