ragweed

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ragweed

ragweed any plant of the genus Ambrosia, coarse, weedy herbs belonging to the family Asteraceae ( aster family), most of which are native to America. They have inconspicuous greenish flowers and soft subdivided leaves. Ragweeds are regarded as especially troublesome because their pollen is acknowledged as the primary cause of hay fever—especially the pollen of A. artemisiifolia (common ragweed) and A. trifida (great ragweed), the two most prevalent species in North America. The leaves of the common ragweed were formerly used as an astringent and hemostatic; they sometimes impart a bitter taste to milk if eaten by cattle. One variety ( elatior ) of this species has become widely naturalized in Europe. Ragweeds are classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Asterales, family Asteraceae.

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ragweed

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

ragweed XVII, ragwort XV. f. RAG1 + WEED1, WORT1; with ref. to the ragged form of the leaves.

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T. F. HOAD. "ragweed." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "ragweed." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ragweed.html

T. F. HOAD. "ragweed." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ragweed.html

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	Immulogic initiates in-season clinical trial of ALLERVAX RAGWEED. Business Wire; 7/20/1995
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