|
COMMON NAME: Common Ragweed
OTHER COMMON NAME(S):
Roman Wormwood, Bitterweed, Hayfever-Weed, Hogweed
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
FAMILY: Asteraceae
COMMUNITY: Edge
STATUS: Native
LIFESPAN: Annual
HEIGHT: 12 to 40 inches
FLOWERING TIME: Mid July to October
FRUITING TIME: Late August to October
DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the United States ~ Statewide in New Jersey
~ Weed
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Branched ~ Head numerous ~ Leaves opposite below and alternate above,
oval or elliptic ~ Flower beaked, erect spines above or near middle, small,
green ~ Taproot
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This large family (Asteraceae), commonly called the Aster Family, consists
of 1,314 genera and 21,000 species of herbs, shrubs, climbers and a few
trees is found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions.
The plants are of value to man as ornamentals; a few are insecticides
and fish poisons. The
genus Ambrosia means “the food of the Gods that impart immortality”
and artemisiifolia means “with leaves of Artemiaia”. Gerard (1633) wrote that the “fragrant smell” of Ambrosia “hath
moved the poets to suppose that this herbe was meate and food for the
gods.” Fernald (1950), however,
concludes that the name is “most inappropriate since the pollen of these
and related bitter plants is the worst cause of hayfever”.
Manasseh Cutler called it Conot-Weed.
He wrote (1785) that it was mistaken for an Aremisia and “generally
called Roman Wormwood…used in anticeptic fomentations.
When it abounds amongst rye or barley, the seeds are thrashed out
with the grain, and will give bread, mode of it, a bitter and disagreeable
taste”—and thus Bitterweed. Common
Ragweed is found in cultivated and fallow fields, along roadsides and
city lots. It occurs regularly with grain crops and commonly
takes over the fields as soon as the grain is harvested. Common Ragweed
is important for gamebirds, including the bobwhite, quail, and for many
of the best loved songbirds such as goldfinch, song sparrow, and junco. The seeds are rich in oil and the seed production
per plant is enormous. Some of
the seeds persist on the plants into winter and remain available for use
when, in the North, other food is covered by snow. Ragweed is one of the most valuable winter foods
for all ground feeding birds.
|