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Facts About this Plant:

Ambrosia artemisiifolia, or Common Ragweed, is native and reported in the entire United States, but is considered adventive in the western third of the US. It is an annual that grows in dry fields, in prairies and meadows, along roads, trails and roadsides and woodland edges, as well as in waste places and yards. It blooms late in the season, usually in late summer and early fall, with very small green-yellow flowers. This plant, though native, is what is responsible for fall seasonal allergies, as it releases large amounts of pollen. However, the plant is very important for birds and other animals as a food source.

There are several plants in this genus, but only three are very widely distributed: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Ambrosia trifida. The former two can be easily distinguished by their leaves - Ambrosia artemisiifolia has deeply divided leaves with many divisions, but Ambrosia trifida typically has large leaves that are split into one, three or five lobes. See comparison photo. More information on other species will be posted later.

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