DESCRIPTION: Shrub to 6' or more. Branches are reddish-brown with long, white hairs. Leaves are simple, toothed, elongated triangle or lance-shaped, hairy, green, and up to 5" long. Flowers bloom Feb. - May and are yellowish-green, small (less than 0.5" wide), in spikes. Fruit is a bur with spines to 1" long. Compositae (Sunflower) Family.
NATURAL HISTORY: Flower is wind-pollinated and plagues allergy-sufferers. Most commonly seen in washes and along roadsides where soil moisture is higher here in Tucson area.