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Ambrosia artemisiifolia

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ambrosia
Species:
A. artemisiifolia
Binomial name
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Synonyms
  • Ambrosia artemisiaefolia L.
  • Ambrosia chilensis Hook. & Arn.
  • Ambrosia elata Salisb.
  • Ambrosia elatior L.
  • Ambrosia glandulosa Scheele
  • Ambrosia monophylla (Walter) Rydb.
  • Ambrosia paniculata Michx.
  • Ambrosia peruviana Cabrera 1941 not Willd. 1805 nor DC. 1836
  • Iva monophylla Walter

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]

Taxonomy

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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

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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

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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

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This species is host to the following insect induced galls:

Asphondylia ambrosiae gall

external link to gallformers

Invasive species

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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

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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

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Sesquiterpene lactones and molluscicide

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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

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

Phytoremediation

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

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  • Plant from distance
    Plant from distance
  • Close-up of leaf
    Close-up of leaf
  • Inflorescence (male capitula)
    Inflorescence (male capitula)
  • Close-up of male capitula
    Close-up of male capitula
  • Female flowers in leaf axil
    Female flowers in leaf axil
  • Achenes
    Achenes
  • Pollen grain (scanning electron microscope)
    Pollen grain (scanning electron microscope)

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Ambrosia artemisiifolia". NatureServe Explorer Ambrosia artemisiifolia. NatureServe. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 22 Jun 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ambrosia artemisiifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  3. ^ Calflora: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
  4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e 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.
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