Cuman ragweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cuman ragweed |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Ambrosia
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| Species: |
psilostachya
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Ambrosia psilostachya is a type of ragweed plant. It's known by a few common names like Cuman ragweed, perennial ragweed, and western ragweed. This plant is found in many places and is quite common.
Contents
Where Does It Grow?
This plant grows all over North America, including the United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. It has also spread to parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. You can often find it in many different environments, even in places where the ground has been disturbed, like along roadsides.
What Does It Look Like?
Ambrosia psilostachya is a plant that stands upright. It's a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. Its stem is thin, branches out, and can grow up to two meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. However, it's usually less than one meter (about 3 feet) tall.
Leaves and Stems
The leaves can be up to 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. They can look like a spear or be almost oval-shaped. Each leaf is divided into many narrow, pointed parts. Both the stem and the leaves of the plant are covered in hairs.
Flowers and Seeds
At the very top of the stem, you'll find the plant's flowers, which usually grow in a spike shape. This plant is monoecious. This means it has both male and female flowers on the same plant.
- The male flowers (called staminate heads) are at the top.
- The female flowers (called pistillate heads) are found lower down, often where the leaves meet the stem.
This plant blooms from June all the way through November.
After the female flowers are pollinated, they produce fruits. These fruits are called achenes. They are found inside oval-shaped, greenish-brown cases called burs. These burs are about half a centimeter long and can be hairy or even spiny.
How It Spreads
The plant can grow new plants in two ways:
- It can grow from seeds.
- It can also sprout from a creeping root system, which is like an underground stem called a rhizome.
Traditional Uses
This plant was used for different purposes by several Native American tribes. These tribes include the Cheyenne, Kumeyaay (Diegueno), and Kiowa people.
Plant Chemistry
Ambrosia psilostachya contains special natural chemicals. These chemicals are part of a group called phytochemicals, and some specific ones are known as psilostachyins.
See also
In Spanish: Cotafiata para niños
