Common Ragweed

(Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings, young plants

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ immature plants

▲▼ mature plants

▲ inflorescences

▲ close-up of pollen in male flowers

Common Ragweed: (pp. 62-63, Weeds of the Great Plains, pp. 108-109 in Weeds of the Northeast)

*    is a much-branched summer annual weed with finely divided (fernlike leaves) (2-4' tall), shorter in poorer growing conditions

*    small, spike-like inflorescence at tips of branches, abundant wind-borne pollen

*    often a first-year invader weed to newly abandoned fields

*    fast-growing, aggressive competitor in agronomic, vegetable crops

*    good source of food and cover for wild birds (quail)