Western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya)

Also Known As: Cuman ragweed, Perennial ragweed
Plant Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2009 Live Map - View

Did you Know? The pollen from western ragweed is the bane of many who suffer from allergies. It was used medicinally, in teas for various purposes by several Native American tribes. The Kiowa used this plant rolled with different sages in sweathouses. Rodents eat the seeds and some herbivores eat the bitter foliage to a limited extent. Because the caterpillars of various moths feed on its foliage, and many songbirds and upland gamebirds eat its seeds throughout the winter, this plant has high ecological value. Western ragweed generally increases with grazing and disturbance, since it does not tolerate shade.

Identification Hints: Western ragweed has distinctive disclike heads with pinnately lobed leaves, with separate male and female flowering heads. Western ragweed can be confused with common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) which is an annual and has creeping roots rather than a taproot and is more common in disturbed and waste areas.

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Flower, End of Flowering, First Ripe Fruit, All Leaves Withered

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2009 Live Map for Western ragweed

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2009 for Western ragweed (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2009 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Flower
= End of Flowering
= First Ripe Fruit
= All Leaves Withered

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