Ambrosia salsola – “Cheesebush”

Also Known As: Winged Ragweed, Burrobush, White Burrobush, Desert Pearl
Other Botanical Names: Hymenoclea salsola
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Apr
Form: Perennial shrub
Habitat: Washes and flats, often dominant
Leaves: Linear to thread-like, entire to few-lobed; alternate
Translation: “Ambrosia” is Greek for “food of the gods,” which is funny since burros like to eat it, as the common name states; “Hymenoclea” is Greek for “enclosed membrane” and refers to encasing around the seed; “salsola” is Latin for “salty,” which describes the type of poor soil it can grow in.
Notes: “Cheesebush” refers to the plant’s odor. It is monoecious, meaning it has separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flowers have papery white bracts that are somewhat showy and – as Munz points out – happen to resemble the flower of the unrelated Cheeseweed (Malva neglecta). Cheesebush naturally hybridizes with its relative, White Burro-Sage (Ambrosia dumosa), despite their differences, such as Cheesebush’s much shorter lifespan and lack of growth-inhibiting root exudates. Cheesebush is more of a pioneer species, quickly establishing itself in disturbed areas including post-wildfire zones.
Animal Associations: Leaves eaten by the Desert Iguana and Chuckwalla.