The plant is widespread across much of North America (United States, Canada, and northern Mexico).

Leaves are up to 12 centimeters long and vary in shape from lance-shaped to nearly oval, and they are divided into many narrow, pointed lobes.

The pistillate heads yield fruits which are achenes located within oval-shaped greenish-brown burs about half a centimeter long.

[12] Ambrosia psilostachya is a host plant for the caterpillars of Bucculatrix transversata,[13] Cosmopterix opulenta, Exaeretia gracilis, Gnorimoschema saphirinella,[14] Schinia sexplagiata; the beetles Calligrapha disrupta, Calligrapha suturalis;[15] and the grasshopper Spharagemon collare.

[16] This plant had a number of medicinal uses among several different Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne, Kumeyaay (Diegueno), and Kiowa people.