Ambrosia trifida
| Ambrosia trifida | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Mid Fall |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Ambrosia trifida (common name: giant ragweed)
Propagation: Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ in April.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species but suggest growing it in a sunny position in a well-drained soil[K].
This plant is sometimes cultivated by the N. American Indians for food and medicine[1].
Range: Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida, west to Manitoba, Colorado and Mexico.
Habitat: Alluvial waste places, sometimes forming vast pure stands[2].
Edibility: This plant was cultivated by the pre-Columbian N. American Indians, seeds found in pre-historic sites are 4 - 5 times larger than those of the present-day wild plant, which seems to indicate selective breeding by the Indians[1]. The following report is for A. artemesifolia, it quite possibly also applies to this species[K].
An oil is obtained from the seed. It has been suggested for edible purposes because it contains little linolenic acid[3][4]. The seed contains up to 19% oil[3], it has slightly better drying properties than soya bean oil[4].
Medicinal: The leaves are very astringent, emetic and febrifuge[2][5]. They are applied externally to insect bites and various skin complaints, internally they are used as a tea in the treatment of pneumonia, fevers, nausea, intestinal cramps, diarrhoea and mucous discharges[2].
The juice of wilted leaves is disinfectant and is applied to infected toes[5].
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of menstrual disorders and stroke[2].
The pollen is harvested commercially and manufactured into pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of allergies to the plant[2].
Usage: A red colour is obtained from the crushed heads[1]. (This probably refers to the seed heads[K].) The sap of the plant can stain the skin red[6].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Monoecious
Known Hazards: The pollen of this plant is a major cause of hayfever in N. America[2]. Ingesting or touching the plant can cause allergic reactions in some people[2].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.