| Ambrosia artemisiifolia |
|
| Scientific classification |
| Kingdom: |
Plantae |
| (unranked): |
Angiosperms |
| (unranked): |
Eudicots |
| (unranked): |
Asterids |
| Order: |
Asterales |
| Family: |
Asteraceae |
| Genus: |
Ambrosia |
| Species: |
A. artemisiifolia |
| Binomial name |
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
L. |
| Synonyms |
|
Ambrosia elatior
|
Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Common Ragweed, is the most widespread plant of the genus Ambrosia in North America. It has also been called Annual Ragweed, Bitterweed, Blackweed, Carrot Weed, Hay Fever Weed, Roman Wormwood, Stammerwort, Stickweed, Tassel Weed, and American Wormwood. It is native in North America. The species name, artemisiifolia, is given because the leaves were thought to bear a resemblance to the leaves of Artemisia, the true wormwoods.
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Invasive species
- 3 Phytoremediation
- 4 References
- 5 External links
Description
Common Ragweed grows to about one meter (3 feet) in height. Its wind-dispersed pollen is a strong allergen to many people with hay fever. Common Ragweed emerges in the late spring, and sets seed in later summer or fall.
-
-
Inflorescences (male capitules)
-
-
Female flowers in leaf axil
-
Pollen core (scanning electron microscope)
-
Invasive species
It has become an invasive species in some European countries,[1] and in Japan, where it is known as butakusa —pig grass.[2]
Common ragweed is a very competitive weed and can produce yield losses in soybeans as high as 30%. Control with night tillage reduces emergence by around 45%. Small grains in rotation will also suppress common ragweed if they are overseeded with clover. Otherwise, the ragweed will grow and mature and produce seeds in the small grain stubble. Several herbicides are effective against common ragweed, although resistant populations are known to exist.[3]
SMARTER is a European interdisciplinary network of experts involved in the control of ragweed, health care professionals, aerobiologists, ecologists, economists, and atmospheric and agricultural modellers.[4]
The occurrence of Ophraella communa, an invasive beetle in Europe, was found south of the Alps in southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Many attacked plants completely defoliated.[5]
Phytoremediation
Ambrosia artemisiifolia is used in phytoremediation projects, removing heavy metals such as Lead from the soil.[citation needed]
References
- ^ INRA - The common ragweed
- ^ Japan Wikipedia entry
- ^ A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU.
- ^ Cf. www.ragweed.eu. The project runs from 2013 to 2017 in the frame of the EU programme COST. More than 120 participants from 33 countries are participating in 2013.
- ^ Ophraella communa, the ragweed leaf beetle, has successfully landed in Europe: fortunate coincidence or threat? Weed Research, Volume 54, Issue 2, pages 109–119, April 2014, DOI: 10.1111/wre.12072
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment
- USDA Plants Profile
- GRIN Species Profile
- Final report EC Assessing and controlling the spread and the effects of common ragweed in Europe
