Ambrosia artemisiifolia

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Ambrosia artemisiifolia plant7 (11741895306).jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ambrosia
Species:
A. artemisiifolia
Binomial name
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
L.
Synonyms
  • Ambrosia artemisiaefoliaL.
  • Ambrosia chilensisHook. & Arn.
  • Ambrosia elataSalisb.
  • Ambrosia elatiorL.
  • Ambrosia glandulosaScheele
  • Ambrosia monophylla(Walter) Rydb.
  • Ambrosia paniculataMichx.
  • Ambrosia peruvianaCabrera 1941 not Willd. 1805 nor DC. 1836
  • Iva monophyllaWalter

Ambrosia artemisiifolia, with the common names common ragweed, annual ragweed, and low ragweed, is a species of the genus Ambrosia native to regions of the Americas. [2] [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

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. [2] [4]

Distribution

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. [2] [5] [6] [7] The distribution of common ragweed in Europe is expected to expand northwards in the future due to climate change. [8]

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 that are susceptible.

Description

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is an annual plant that emerges in late spring. It propagates mainly by rhizomes,[ clarification needed ] but also by seed. [4]

It is much-branched, and grows up to 70 centimetres (2.3 ft) in height. [9] The pinnately divided soft and hairy leaves are 3–12 centimetres (1.2–4.7 in) long. [9]

Its bloom period is July to October in North America. [9] Its pollen is wind-dispersed, and can be a strong allergen to people with hay fever. [4] [10]

It produces 2–4 mm obconic green to brown fruit. [9] 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. [4]

Galls

This species is host to the following insect induced galls:

Asphondylia ambrosiae gall Asphondylia ambrosiae 1.jpg
Asphondylia ambrosiae gall

external link to gallformers

Invasive species

Ambrosia in chicken coop in Belgium Ambrosia artemisiifolia 001.jpg
Ambrosia in chicken coop in Belgium

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. [2] [9] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] 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. [17] 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.

Ragweed control

As of 2005 several herbicides were effective against common ragweed, although resistant populations were known to exist. [18] In 2007 several Ambrosia artemisiifolia populations were glyphosate resistant, exclusively in the USA. [19]

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. [20] 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. [21]

Chemical composition, and uses

Sesquiterpene lactones and molluscicide

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 . [22]

Medicinal

Ambrosia artemisiifolia has been a traditional medicinal plant for Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Lakota, Iroquois, Dakota, and Delaware. [23]

Phytoremediation

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is used in phytoremediation projects remediating soil pollution, for removing heavy metals such as lead from contaminated soil. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteraceae</span> Large family of flowering plants

Asteraceae is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger family is unclear as the quantity of extant species in each family is unknown. The Asteraceae were first described in the year 1740 and given the original name Compositae. The family is commonly known as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ragweed</span> Genus of plants

Ragweeds are flowering plants in the genus Ambrosia in the aster family, Asteraceae. They are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, especially North America, where the origin and center of diversity of the genus are in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Several species have been introduced to the Old World and some have naturalized and have become invasive species. In Europe, this spread is expected to continue, due to ongoing climate change.

<i>Acer negundo</i> Species of tree commonly known as boxelder maple

Acer negundo, the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or invasive species, and has been introduced to and naturalized throughout much of the world, including in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, much of Europe, and parts of Asia.

<i>Glebionis segetum</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Glebionis segetum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, probably native only to the eastern Mediterranean region but now naturalized in western and northern Europe as well as China and parts of North America. Common names include corn marigold and corn daisy.

<i>Chenopodium album</i> Species of flowering plant in the goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium album is a fast-growing annual plant in the flowering plant family Amaranthaceae. Though cultivated in some regions, the plant is elsewhere considered a weed. Common names include lamb's quarters, melde, goosefoot, wild spinach and fat-hen, though the latter two are also applied to other species of the genus Chenopodium, for which reason it is often distinguished as white goosefoot. Chenopodium album is extensively cultivated and consumed in Northern India, and Nepal as a food crop known as bathua.

<i>Amaranthus palmeri</i> Species of plant

Amaranthus palmeri is a species of edible flowering plant in the amaranth genus. It has several common names, including carelessweed, dioecious amaranth, Palmer's amaranth, Palmer amaranth, and Palmer's pigweed.

<i>Erigeron canadensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Erigeron canadensis is an annual plant native throughout most of North America and Central America. It is also widely naturalized in Eurasia and Australia. Common names include horseweed, Canadian horseweed, Canadian fleabane, coltstail, marestail, and butterweed. It was the first weed to have developed glyphosate resistance, reported in 2001 from Delaware.

<i>Ambrosia dumosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia dumosa, the burro-weed or white bursage, a North American species of plants in the family Asteraceae. It is a common constituent of the creosote-bush scrub community throughout the Mojave desert of California, Nevada, and Utah and the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northwestern Mexico.

<i>Ambrosia trifida</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia trifida, the giant ragweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

<i>Ambrosia psilostachya</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Ambrosia psilostachya is a species of ragweed known by the common names Cuman ragweed and perennial ragweed, and western ragweed.

<i>Ambrosia chenopodiifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia chenopodiifolia is a species of ragweed known by the common names San Diego bursage and San Diego bur ragweed. It is native to the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, as well as to Orange and San Diego Counties it int US State of California. It is a member of the coastal sage scrub plant community.

<i>Ambrosia confertiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia confertiflora is a North American species of ragweed known by the common name weakleaf bur ragweed.

<i>Artemisia biennis</i> Species of flowering plant

Artemisia biennis is a species of sagebrush known by the common name biennial wormwood. It is a common and widely distributed weed, so well established in many places that its region of origin is difficult to ascertain. This species is most likely native to northwestern North America and naturalized in Western Europe, and eastern and southern North America.

<i>Ambrosia tomentosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia tomentosa, the skeletonleaf bur ragweed, silverleaf povertyweed, or skeleton-leaf bursage, is a North American species of perennial plants in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> Species of flowering plant

Parthenium hysterophorus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the American tropics. Common names include Santa-Maria, Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed, and famine weed. In India, it is locally known as carrot grass, congress grass or gajar ghas or dhanura. It is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa.

<i>Ophraella communa</i> Species of beetle

Ophraella communa, common name ragweed leaf beetle, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae.

Ambrosia cordifolia, called the Tucson bur ragweed, is a North American species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to northern Mexico and the State of Arizona in the United States.

Ragweed leaf beetle may refer to either of two leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae:

<i>Calligrapha suturalis</i> Species of beetle

Calligrapha suturalis, commonly known as the ragweed leaf beetle, is a species of leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, in the subgenus Zygogramma, which was formerly a genus. Native to North America, it has been introduced into Russia and China for the biological pest control of ragweed.

References

  1. "NatureServe Explorer - Ambrosia artemisiifolia". NatureServe Explorer Ambrosia artemisiifolia. NatureServe. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 22 Jun 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ambrosia artemisiifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  3. Calflora: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
  4. 1 2 3 4 NPIN−Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
  5. Bonap.net: Biota of North America Program county distribution map (2014)
  6. 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.
  7. Jørgensen, P. M., M. H. Nee & S. G. Beck. (eds.) 2015 en adelante. Catalogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia (adiciones).
  8. Rasmussen, Karen; Thyrring, Jakob; Muscarella, Robert; Borchsenius, Finn (16 March 2017). "Climate-change-induced range shifts of three allergenic ragweeds ( L.) in Europe and their potential impact on human health". PeerJ. 5: e3104. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3104 . PMC   5357339 . PMID   28321366.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Ambrosia artemisiifolia . accessed 26 August 2016.
  10. Newscientist.com: "North American ragweed to bring autumn allergy misery to Europe."
  11. Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 15 Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 988. 1753.
  12. Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 876, 877 豚草 tun cao Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 988. 1753.
  13. Altervista.org: Flora Italiana − Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.
  14. Atlas of Living Australia: Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Annual Ragweed)
  15. INRA – The common ragweed
  16. Circabc.europa.eu; Final report: "EC Assessing and Controlling the spread and the effects of Common ragweed in Europe"
  17. Bieker, Vanessa; et al. (2022). "Uncovering the genomic basis of an extraordinary plant invasion". Science Advances. 8 (34): eabo5115. Bibcode:2022SciA....8O5115B. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abo5115 . PMC   9401624 . PMID   36001672.
  18. A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU.
  19. Stephen B Powles (April 2008). "Evolved glyphosate-resistant weeds around the world: lessons to be learnt". Pest Management Science Pest Management Science. 64 (4): 360–365. doi: 10.1002/ps.1525 . PMID   18273881.
  20. Müller-Schärer, H (2014). "Ophraella communa, the ragweed leaf beetle, has successfully landed in Europe: fortunate coincidence or threat?" (PDF). Weed Research. 54 (2): 109–119. Bibcode:2014WeedR..54..109M. doi: 10.1111/wre.12072 .
  21. Cf. www.ragweed.eu Archived 2013-06-11 at the Wayback Machine . 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.
  22. Wang, P. H.; Xu, J.; Wu, M. Y. (1993). "Chemical constituents of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)". Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 18 (3): 164–166, 191. PMID   8352903.
  23. BRIT.org: Native American Ethnobotany Database on Ambrosia artemisiifolia . accessed 26 August 2016.
  24. Huang, Jianwei W.; Chen, Jianjun; Berti, William R.; Cunningham, Scott D. (1997). "Phytoremediation of Lead-Contaminated Soils: Role of Synthetic Chelates in Lead Phytoextraction". Environmental Science & Technology. 31 (3): 800–805. Bibcode:1997EnST...31..800H. doi:10.1021/es9604828.