- Ambrosia artemisiifolia
-
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.
Contents
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.
External links
This Heliantheae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
