Ragweed
Genus of plants / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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,[2] where the origin and center of diversity of the genus are in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.[3] Several species have been introduced to the Old World and some have naturalized and have become invasive species.[2] In Europe, this spread is expected to continue, due to ongoing climate change.[4]
Ragweed | |
---|---|
Ambrosia psilostachya | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
Tribe: | Heliantheae |
Subtribe: | Ambrosiinae |
Genus: | Ambrosia L. |
Synonyms[1] | |
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The name "ragweed" is derived from "ragged" + "weed," coming from the ragged appearance of the plant's leaves.[5] Other common names include bursages[6] and burrobrushes.[7] The genus name is from the Greek ambrosia, meaning "food or drink of immortality".[2]
Ragweed pollen is notorious for causing allergic reactions in humans, specifically allergic rhinitis. Up to half of all cases of pollen-related allergic rhinitis in North America are caused by ragweeds.[8]
The most widespread species of the genus in North America is Ambrosia artemisiifolia.