Ambrosia artemisiifolia

The species name, artemisiifolia, is given because the leaves were thought to bear a resemblance to the leaves of Artemisia, the true wormwoods.

It has also been called the common names: American wormwood, bitterweed, blackweed, carrot weed, hay fever weed, Roman wormwood, short ragweed, stammerwort, stickweed, tassel weed.[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AMAR2 NPIN−Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network: Ambrosia artemisiifolia]

The plant is native to: North America across Canada, the eastern and central United States, the Great Plains, and in Alaska; the Caribbean on Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica; and South America in the southern bioregion (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay), the western bioregion (Bolivia, Peru), and Brazil.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Ambrosia%20artemisiifolia.png Bonap.net: Biota of North America Program county distribution map (2014)]Hokche, O., P. E. Berry & O. Huber. (eds.) 2008. Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela 1–859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela, Caracas.Jørgensen, P. M., M. H. Nee & S. G. Beck. (eds.) 2015 en adelante. Catalogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia (adiciones). The distribution of common ragweed in Europe is expected to expand northwards in the future due to climate change.{{cite journal|last1=Rasmussen|first1=Karen|last2=Thyrring|first2=Jakob|last3=Muscarella|first3=Robert|last4=Borchsenius|first4=Finn|title=Climate-change-induced range shifts of three allergenic ragweeds ( L.) in Europe and their potential impact on human health|journal=PeerJ|date=16 March 2017|volume=5|pages=e3104|doi=10.7717/peerj.3104|pmid=28321366|pmc=5357339 |doi-access=free }}

It is the most widespread species of the genus in North America, to which most of the other species of Ambrosia are endemic. During the summer it causes allergic reaction in those who are susceptible.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is an annual plant that emerges in late spring. It propagates by seed.

It is much-branched, and grows up to {{convert|70|cm|ft}} in height.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=805 Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Ambrosia artemisiifolia] . accessed 26 August 2016. The pinnately divided soft and hairy leaves are {{convert|3|-|12|cm|in}} long.

Its bloom period is July to October in North America. Its pollen is wind-dispersed, and can be a strong allergen to people with hay fever.[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27585-north-american-ragweed-to-bring-autumn-allergy-misery-to-europe.html#.VWQ-2k_tmko Newscientist.com: "North American ragweed to bring autumn allergy misery to Europe."]

It produces 2–4 mm obconic green to brown fruit. It sets seed in later summer or autumn. Since the seeds persist into winter and are numerous and rich in oil, they are relished by songbirds and upland game birds.

This species is host to the following insect induced galls:

• Aceria ambrosiae Wilson, 1959 midge that forms bud-galls
• Asphondylia ambrosiae Gagné, 1975
• Aulacidea ambrosiaecola Ragweed stem gall wasp (see image)
• Epiblema strenuana (Walker, 1863) stem borer moth
• Neolasioptera ambrosiae Felt, 1909 small stem midge.
• Procecidochares gibba (Loew, 1873) gall fly
• Rhopalomyia ambrosiae Gagné, 1975 bud gall midge

file:Asphondylia_ambrosiae_1.jpg ]]

[https://gallformers.org/host/41 external link to gallformers]

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia 001.jpg

Common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is a widespread invasive species, and can become a noxious weed, that has naturalized in Europe; temperate Asia and the Indian subcontinent; temperate northern and southern Africa and Macaronesia; Oceania in Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii; and Southwestern North America in California and the Southwestern United States.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023072 Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 15 Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 988. 1753. ][http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200023072 Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 876, 877 豚草 tun cao Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 988. 1753. ][http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=ambrosia+artemisiifolia Altervista.org: Flora Italiana − Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.][http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:562119# Atlas of Living Australia: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Annual Ragweed)][http://www.international.inra.fr/press/the_common_ragweed__1 INRA – The common ragweed][https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/d/d1ad57e8-327c-4fdd-b908-dadd5b859eff/Final_Final_Report.pdf Circabc.europa.eu; Final report: "EC Assessing and Controlling the spread and the effects of Common ragweed in Europe"] A scientific study investigated the genomic basis of invasiveness in Ambrosia artemisiifolia, introduced to Europe in the late 19th century, by resequencing 655 ragweed genomes, including 308 herbarium specimens collected up to 190 years ago.{{cite journal |last1=Bieker |first1=Vanessa |display-authors=etal |title=Uncovering the genomic basis of an extraordinary plant invasion |journal=Science Advances |date=2022 |volume=8 |issue=34 |page=eabo5115 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abo5115 |pmid=36001672 |pmc=9401624 |bibcode=2022SciA....8O5115B |doi-access=free }} In invasive European populations, the study found selection signatures in defense genes and lower prevalence of disease-inducing plant pathogens. Together with temporal changes in population structure associated with introgression from closely related Ambrosia species, escape from specific microbial enemies likely favored the remarkable success of common ragweed as an invasive species.

Common ragweed is a very competitive weed and can produce yield losses in soybeans as high as 30 percent. Control with night tillage reduces emergence by around 45 percent. 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.

Its wind-blown pollen is highly allergenic.

{{as of|2005}} several herbicides were effective against common ragweed, although resistant populations were known to exist.A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU. In 2007 several Ambrosia artemisiifolia populations were glyphosate resistant, exclusively in the USA.{{cite journal|author1=Stephen B Powles|title=Evolved glyphosate-resistant weeds around the world: lessons to be learnt|journal=Pest Management Science Pest Management Science|date=April 2008|volume=64|issue=4|pages=360–365|doi=10.1002/ps.1525|pmid=18273881|doi-access=free}}

{{as of|2014}} the ragweed leaf beetle, Ophraella communa, has been found south of the Alps in southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Many of the attacked plants were completely defoliated.{{cite journal | doi = 10.1111/wre.12072 | volume=54 | issue=2 | title=Ophraella communa, the ragweed leaf beetle, has successfully landed in Europe: fortunate coincidence or threat? | year=2014 | journal=Weed Research | pages=109–119 | last1 = Müller-Schärer | first1 = H| bibcode=2014WeedR..54..109M | url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/209915/files/mue_ocr.pdf | doi-access=free }} Calligrapha suturalis was introduced to Russia, and then China, for ragweed control, with very positive initial results.

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.Cf. [http://www.ragweed.eu www.ragweed.eu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611022745/http://ragweed.eu/ |date=2013-06-11 }}. The project ran from 2013 to 2017 as part of the EU programme COST. More than 120 participants from 33 countries were active during 2013.

Three sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the aerial parts of Ambrosia artemisiifolia were identified as psilostachyin A, psilostachyin B and psilostachyin C. All of them have some molluscicidal activity against the small tropical freshwater snail Oncomelania hupensis.{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=P. H. |last2=Xu |first2=J. |last3=Wu |first3=M. Y. |title=Chemical constituents of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) |journal=Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi |date=1993 |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=164–166, 191 |pmid=8352903 }}

Ambrosia artemisiifolia has been a traditional medicinal plant for Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Lakota, Iroquois, Dakota, and Delaware.[http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Ambrosia+artemisiifolia BRIT.org: Native American Ethnobotany Database on Ambrosia artemisiifolia] . accessed 26 August 2016.

Historically, A. artemisiifolia was used by the Otoe Native American tribe in the Missouri River region as a remedy for nausea. It was used on the surface of the abdomen, where the patient was scarified and then dressed with the bruised leaves.Gilmore, M. R. (1919). Uses of plants by the indians of the Missouri River region. B. o. A. E. Smithsonian Institution. 33rd Annual Report. It was also utilized by the Houma tribe in Louisiana for menstruation pain by making a tea out of the boiled roots.Speck, F. G. (1941). "A list of plant curatives obtained from the Houma Indians of Louisiana." Primitive Man 14(4): 49-73.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is used in phytoremediation projects remediating soil pollution, for removing heavy metals such as lead from contaminated soil.{{cite journal|doi=10.1021/es9604828 | volume=31 | issue=3 | title=Phytoremediation of Lead-Contaminated Soils: Role of Synthetic Chelates in Lead Phytoextraction | year=1997 | journal=Environmental Science & Technology | pages=800–805 | last1 = Huang | first1 = Jianwei W. | last2 = Chen | first2 = Jianjun | last3 = Berti | first3 = William R. | last4 = Cunningham | first4 = Scott D.| bibcode=1997EnST...31..800H }}

File:Common ragweed at distance.jpg|Plant from distance

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia004.jpg|Close-up of leaf

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia inflorescence.jpg|Inflorescence (male capitula)

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia male flowers.jpg|Close-up of male capitula

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia - female flowers RHu.jpg|Female flowers in leaf axil

File:Ambrosia artemisiifolia.jpg|Achenes

File:Ambrosia artem1-5.jpg|Pollen grain (scanning electron microscope)

{{Reflist|26em}}

{{Commons category|Ambrosia artemisiifolia}}

• {{cite journal | last1 = Essl | first1 = F. | last2 = Biró | first2 = K. | last3 = Brandes | first3 = D. | last4 = Broennimann | first4 = O. | last5 = Bullock | first5 = J.M. | last6 = Chapman | first6 = D.S. | last7 = Chauvel | first7 = B. | last8 = Dullinger | first8 = S. | last9 = Fumanal | first9 = B. | last10 = Guisan | first10 = A. | last11 = Karrer | first11 = G. | year = 2015 | title = Biological flora of the British Isles: Ambrosia artemisiifolia | journal = Journal of Ecology | volume = 103 | issue = 4| pages = 1069–1098 | doi=10.1111/1365-2745.12424| bibcode = 2015JEcol.103.1069E | url = http://eprints.worc.ac.uk/5194/7/jec12424.pdf | doi-access = free }}
• [https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=290 Calflora Database: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Annual ragweed, Common ragweed, Low ragweed)]—non-native/naturalized species in California
• [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=805 Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Ambrosia artemisiifolia]—non-native/naturalized species in California
• [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=begins+with&where-taxon=Ambrosia+artemisiifolia UC CalPhotos gallery: Ambrosia artemisiifolia]

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artemisiifolia

Category:Flora of Canada

Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States

Category:Flora of the North-Central United States

Category:Flora of the United States

Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States

Category:Flora of the Caribbean

Category:Flora of southern South America

Category:Flora of western South America

Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains

Category:Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America)

Category:Flora of the Great Plains (North America)

Category:Plants used in traditional Native American medicine

Category:Plants described in 1753

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Category:Phytoremediation plants