Ambrosia maritima L.

Aromatic, grey villose-canescent annual or short-lived perennial. leaves 2-6 x 1-2.5 cm, 1-2-pinnatisect, the lobes oblong-ovateand staminate capitula 2.5-3 mm diam., sessile in nodding dense spicate inflorescences 2-6 cm; florets 8-20; corollas 3 mm, tubular, yellow, pubescent outside; anthers with a conspicuous appendage, pistillate capitula axillary, greenish; involucre reticulate-nerved, tuberculate.fruiting involucre 4-5 x 3-3.5 mm, accrescent, ovoid, tapering to a 1 mm beak and 5-7 horn like appendages around the middle; achenes 3-3.5 x 2-2.5 mm, subglobose to ovoid, epappose,
firmly enclosed by the involucre.

Nile Valley North of Nubia at Delta and Nubia, Libyan Desert Oases, Nubian Desert Oases, Mareotic Sector and North Sinai.

Mediterranean region.

Nile and canal banks, moist ground.

Annual or perennial.

Height: 20-60(-80) cm

maritima: maritime, of the sea

Erect branching aromatic annual herb, up to c. 1 m tall. Stems covered with long spreading hairs. Leaves alternate, ovate in outline, deeply divided almost to the midrib; primary lobes divided again, velvety on both surfaces more densely on the paler undersurface. Capitula in terminal and axillary spike-like racemes up to 13 cm long, unisexual. Male florets up to 20 per capitulum, whitish; female florets few, below the base of male inflorescence.

Native to Mediterranean Region and northern areas of Africa. An introduced weed elsewhere in Africa.

Ambrosia maritima, the sea ragweed, is a species of herb in the family Asteraceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 40 cm (16 in).