Taxon Report

Ambrosia chenopodiifolia (Benth.) Payne

San Diego bur-sage

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© 2020 Keir Morse

Taxon Summary

Ambrosia chenopodiifolia, commonly known as San Diego bur-sage, is a perennial shrub in the Asteraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 55 to 155 meters. Ambrosia chenopodiifolia is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Ambrosia chenopodiifolia (Benth.) Payne
Common Name:
San Diego bur-sage
Family: Asteraceae
Element Code: PDAST0C080
USDA Plants Symbol: AMCH5
Synonyms/Other Names:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 21
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 3
   Fair (C) 2
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 2
   Unknown (U) 14
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Imperial Beach (3211751), National City (3211761), Otay Mesa (3211658)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 10
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
15 71 %
Development 11 52%
ORV activity 6 28%
Vandalism/dumping/litter 3 14%
Road/trail construction/maint. 2 9%
Non-native plant impacts 2 9%
Foot traffic/trampling 2 9%
Grazing 1 4%
Mining 1 4%
Agriculture 1 4%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 1 4%

Notes

Threats:
Threatened by development.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

The Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur 26. (1844)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 3 September 2025].