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Ambrosia artemisiifolia — Details

Small Ragweed learn more about names for this taxon

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Overview

Comprehensive Description

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Common Ragweed is a major cause of hay fever during the late summer and fall. Aside from this unfortunate characteristic, it has considerable ecological value to various birds and moths, and therefore it isn't necessarily desirable to destroy this plant on sight. Compared to other Ambrosia spp. (Ragweeds) that occur in Illinois, Common Ragweed has more deeply pinnatifid leaves.

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Description

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This is a native annual plant up to 3' tall and branching frequently. The hairy stems are green to light pinkish red. The leaves are up to 6" long and 4" across, and are opposite or alternate along the stems. They are deeply pinnatifid, broadly lanceolate (in outline), and usually much wider at the base than the tip. Mature leaves are relatively hairless, but small emergent leaves often have hairs on their undersides. Many of the upper stems terminate in one or more cylindrical spikes of flowers about 1-4" long. Near the base of the central flowering spike, one or two small spikes may develop that are only half as long. The small flowers are initially green, but later turn yellowish green or brown as they mature and develop into achenes. Each flower is about 1/8" long, the males producing a fine yellow pollen that is easily carried by the wind. This pollen is usually released during late summer or early fall. Numerous seeds are produced, which can remain viable for 5 years or more. The extensive root system is fibrous.

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Distribution

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.:
Canada (North America)
Chile (South America)
Ecuador (South America)
United States (North America)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)

SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Lawesson, J. E., H. Adsersen & P. Bentley. 1987. An updated and annotated check list of the vascular plants of the Galapagos Islands. Rep. Bot. Inst. Univ. Aarhus 16: 1–74. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43197
Porter, D. M. 1983. Vascular plants of the Galapagos: Origins and dispersal. 33–54. In M. B. R. I. Bowman & A. E. Leviton Patt. Evol. Galapagos Org. Pacific Division, AAAS, San Francisco. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/43214
Marticorena, C. & M. Quezada. 1985. Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Chile. Gayana, Bot. 42: 1–157. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1592
Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Sympetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 3. 596 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1707
Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. Welman, E. Reitief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. v. Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2). http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1371
Long, R. W. & O. K. Lakela. 1971. Fl. Trop. Florida i–xvii, 1–962. University of Miami Press, Coral Cables. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1506
Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/637
Wiggins, I. L. & D. M. Porter. 1971. Fl. Galápagos Isl. i–xx, 1–998. Stanford University Press, Stanford. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/73
Hickman, J. C. 1993. Jepson Man.: Higher Pl. Calif. i–xvii, 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/40453
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1717
Cronquist, A. J. 1980. Asteraceae. 1: i–xv, 1–261. In Vasc. Fl. S.E. U. S. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1714

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Ambrosia glandulosa Scheele:
United States (North America)

Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia fo. artemisiifolia :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. artemisiifolia :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327

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Ambrosia monophylla (Walter) Rydb.:
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. paniculata (Michx.) Blank.:
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327

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National Distribution

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United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

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National Distribution

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Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

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National Distribution

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Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

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Range and Habitat in Illinois

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This plant is very common and widespread, occurring in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It can be found in disturbed areas of mesic to dry black soil prairies, particularly along the margins near developed areas. This ragweed is not particularly common in high quality prairies, but patches or isolated plants are regularly observed. Other native habitats include hill prairies, gravel prairies, meadows in woodland areas, and the edges of gravelly seeps. In developed areas, Common Ragweed is often observed in cropland, abandoned fields, vacant lots, fence rows, and areas along roadsides and railroads. Occasionally, it appears as a weed in gardens and lawns. This plant thrives in practically any kind of disturbance. It has allelopathic properties that inhibit the growth and development of neighboring plants.

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Physical Description

Morphology

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Hybrids between Ambrosia artemisiifolia and A. psilostachya have been called A. ×intergradiens W. H. Wagner. The name Ambrosia ×helenae Rouleau applies to hybrids between A. artemisiifolia and A. trifida.

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Description

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Annuals, 10–60(–150+) cm. Stems erect. Leaves opposite (proximal) and alternate; petioles 25–35(–60+) mm; blades deltate to lanceolate or elliptic, 25–55(–90+) × 20–30(–50+) mm, 1–2-pinnately lobed, bases cuneate, ultimate margins entire or toothed, abaxial faces sparsely pilosulous to strigillose, adaxial faces strigillose, both gland-dotted. Pistillate heads clustered, proximal to staminates; florets 1. Staminate heads: peduncles 0.5–1.5 mm; involucres shallowly cup-shaped (usually without black nerves), 2–3+ mm diam., glabrous or hispid to pilosulous; florets 12–20+. Burs: bodies ± globose to pyriform, 2–3 mm, ± pilosulous, spines or tubercles 3–5+, near middles or distal, ± conic to acerose, 0.1–0.5+ mm, tips straight. 2n = 34, 36.

Flora of North America @ eFloras.org

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Diagnostic Description

Synonym

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior (Linnaeus) Descourtilz; A. artemisiifolia var. paniculata (Michaux) Blankinship; A. elatior Linnaeus; A. glandulosa Scheele; A. monophylla (Walter) Rydberg

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Ecology

Habitat

Range and Habitat in Illinois

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This plant is very common and widespread, occurring in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It can be found in disturbed areas of mesic to dry black soil prairies, particularly along the margins near developed areas. This ragweed is not particularly common in high quality prairies, but patches or isolated plants are regularly observed. Other native habitats include hill prairies, gravel prairies, meadows in woodland areas, and the edges of gravelly seeps. In developed areas, Common Ragweed is often observed in cropland, abandoned fields, vacant lots, fence rows, and areas along roadsides and railroads. Occasionally, it appears as a weed in gardens and lawns. This plant thrives in practically any kind of disturbance. It has allelopathic properties that inhibit the growth and development of neighboring plants.

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Associations

Faunal Associations

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Common Ragweed is very valuable to many kinds of wildlife. Honeybees have been observed collecting pollen from the male flowers, otherwise flower-visiting insects are not attracted to this plant. The caterpillars of several moths eat the foliage, flowers, or seeds, including Schinia rivulosa (Ragweed Flower Moth), Eynchlora arida (Wavy-Lined Emerald), Tarachidia erastriodies (Small Bird-Dropping Moth), Tarachidia candefacta (Olive-Shaded Bird-Dropping Moth), and others (see Moth Table). In my experience, some species of grasshoppers are quite abundant around colonies of Common Ragweed, probably because they eat the foliage and prefer the disturbed, open habitats where this plant occurs. Many upland gamebirds and songbirds are attracted to the oil-rich seeds (see Bird Table). Because the spikes of seeds often remain above snow cover, they are especially valuable to some of these birds during winter. The seeds are also eaten to some extent by the Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel, Meadow Vole, and Prairie Vole. The seeds are probably semi-digestible, thus some of them are likely distributed far and wide by these animals. On the other hand, the foliage is quite bitter, therefore it isn't popular with mammalian herbivores.

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Ambrosia artemisiifolia

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Species: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

National NatureServe Conservation Status

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United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

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NatureServe Conservation Status

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Rounded Global Status Rank: T4 - Apparently Secure

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National NatureServe Conservation Status

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Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

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NatureServe Conservation Status

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Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

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National NatureServe Conservation Status

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Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

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NatureServe Conservation Status

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Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Cultivation

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The preference is full sun and average to slightly dry conditions. This plant is rather indifferent to soil type, and will thrive in soil containing high amounts of clay, gravel, or sand – in fact, it prefers sterile soil because of the reduced competition from other plants. Resistance to drought is very good, although some of the lower leaves may wither away. Common Ragweed is often persistent and aggressive because the seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years. This common plant will introduce itself into a wildflower garden or native habitat, whether it is wanted or not.

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Wikipedia

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

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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.

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.

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 seed in the small grain stubble. Several herbicides are effective against common ragweed, although resistant populations are known to exist.^[3]

Phytoremediation

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is used in phytoremediation projects, removing heavy metals such as Lead from the soil.

References

^ INRA - The common ragweed
^ Japan Wikipedia entry
^ A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU.

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