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Weed Gallery

Ragweed and the Like

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Common Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Plant shown about 12" tall but can reach 6 feet tall.  "Flower" cluster about 2" long.  Pollen is a source for allergens.  Seeds are eaten by many birds.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004

(Native of Texas)

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Cuman Ragweed (Western Ragweed) Ambrosia psilostachya

Plant can reach 3 feet tall.  "Flower" cluster about 2" long.  Pollen is a source for allergens.  Seeds are eaten by many birds.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004

Photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native of Texas)

need photo

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Texas Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida var. texana

A single cane with fine ribbing, many leaf nodes, short stiff hairs, and side grooves (bamboo-like).  Plant can reach well over 12 feet tall and nearly 2" at the base (needs damp soil).  Leaves grow opposite on the stem with one large leaf and one small leaf (new?).  The large ones are 8"-10" long (top sample 4" long) and almost that wide, trilob, palmer.  The lobes are nearly equal in size, have narrow pointed apex, and reach to about 3/4" of the petiole (leaf stem).  Petiole is not winged.  Linear leaves near flowers are not lobed.  Leaves are like sandpaper.  Flower stem is very similar to other ragweeds.  Flowering from the base, it is made up of tiny green cups filled with multiple yellow "balls" inside.  Most of the flowers are male and the pollen is a major allergen source.  Small female flowers are clustered under the highest leaves.  Seeds are eaten by many birds.  A mash from the leaves stops bleeding.

Photo taken in ? County, Texas, ? 200?

(Native of Texas - just one county)

Similar Variation

Giant Ragweed (Great Ragweed) Ambrosia trifida var. trifida (Ambrosia trifida var. integrifolia)

Same as above but has winged petiole (leaf stem).  Leaves that are un-lobed are sometimes listed as var. integrifolia.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Annual Marshelder Iva annua

Missed the flower and ripe fruit.  Plant grew 2-3 feet tall, most of which were the long spikes.  Spikes about 12" long and 1/2" wide.  Leaves 1"-4" long, largest were lowest.

Photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native of Texas)

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot family

Povertyweed (Annual Povertyweed, Nuttall's Povertyweed) Monolepis nuttalliana

Sprawling to upright plant about 12" tall.  Flowers (and fruit) grow on main stem, heavily clustered at leaf nodes.  Leaves are variable, usually with two lobes at base, sometimes with small teeth at tip, about 1" long, longest lower down.  Fruit ripens to red.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005

(Native of Texas)

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot family

? Common Name **zz 10** Chenopodium sp.

I need another look at this plant for identification.

Plant about 24" tall.  Loose cluster, 6"-8" tall spike, of tight clusters of small round green buds.  Leaves 1"-2" long with a prominent center vein.  Growing in limy sand near a tank.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004

(Native of Texas)

Hunting Similar Species

likely  Desert Goosefoot (Aridland Goosefoot) Chenopodium pratericola (C. desiccatum)

Leaves of various lengths, some entire, some with one or two thumb lobes.  Young shoots and leaves are edible,  boiled.  Seeds are edible, soak overnight then boil discarding water several times.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

similar  Narrowleaf Goosefoot (Narrowleaf Lambsquarters) Chenopodium album

Leaves variable, lobed, toothed, occasionally entire. Flowers similar.

(Native of Texas - not of Taylor)

Mexican Tea Chenopodium ambrosioides

Small flower stalks.  Long toothed leaves of various lengths.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Pitseed Goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri

Flower closeup looks like mine.  Leaf has sharp teeth.

(Native of Texas - Brown)

similar but not  Narrowleaf Goosefoot (Narrowleaf Lambsquarters) Chenopodium leptophyllum

Long pointed narrow leaves. Flowers like strung pearls.

(Native of Texas - not of Taylor)

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot family

Lambsquarters Chenopodium album

Balls of tiny flowers in dense clusters at the top of the stem.  Leaves are widest lower than middle with uneven teeth to the tip.  Early leaves are purplish below turning whitish.  Leaves mixed in with seeds are linear.  Winter leaves turn red.  End of season and during drought.  Plants grow to 6 feet tall.  Leaves are edible but in small quantities, generally cooked.  Not frost tender.  A cause of hay fever.

Photos taken in Smith County, Texas, November 2006

(Introduced, native of Europe)

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