Natural History

The Triangleleaf Bursage is a member of the sunflower family. The plant is a densely branched shrub which grows to about 2 feet in height. Leaves are gray-green on top (whiter and somewhat fuzzy underneath). The bursage grows in rocky desert flats and washes at elevations between 1000 and 3000 feet.
 

The plant blooms between December and April and produces inconspicuous small, greenish, petal-less flowers to 1/4" wide, followed by burr-like fruits which have hook-tipped spines (enabling them to hitch a ride on an unsuspecting animal or your socks). The bursage commonly acts as a nurse plant for several small species of cactus. It is also known for its ability to produce pollen which aggravates allergies in some individuals.