Ambrosia trifida
| Giant Ragweed | ||||||||||||||
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 Blooming flowers | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Ambrosia trifida |
Ambrosia trifida, variously called Buffalo Weed, Great Ragweed, Giant Ragweed, Bitterweed, Bloodweed, Horse Cane or, Tall Ambrosia, is an annual plant in the aster family, native throughout much of North America. Its flowers are green and are pollinated by wind rather than by insects, and the pollen is one of the main causes of late summer hay fever. Flowers are borne from midsummer through early fall.
The plant is erect, growing to 3 meters tall from clumping rootstocks.
As a Weed
Giant Ragweed is one of the most competitive weeds found in North America. At average distributions it can reduce corn crop yields by 55% and soybean yields by 52%. It is very difficult to control Giant Ragweed through mechanical means or herbicides, but it does not tolerate mowing, so planting small grains in succession is an effective way to suppress infestations.
References
- A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU.
- Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
External links
Media related to Ambrosia trifida from the Wikimedia Commons.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Ambrosia trifida". Image Credit.
