Ambrosia artemisiifolia – “Annual Ragweed”

Also Known As: Common Ragweed, Bitterweed, Blackweed, Carrot Weed, Hay Fever Weed, Roman Wormwood, Stammerwort, Stickweed, Tassel Weed, American Wormwood
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Jul-Oct
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Roadsides, empty lots, and other human-disturbed areas
Leaves: Pinnately-compound; opposite
Translation: “Ambrosia” is Greek for “food of the gods,” and it is unclear how that relates to this plant; “artemisiifolia” is Latin for “leaves like Artemisia” – such as Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) or Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) – which makes sense to me because I thought it was an Artemisia when I first saw it.
Notes: The wind-dispersed pollen is notorious as an allergen for people with hay fever.
Native American Uses: Native Americans throughout the New World had many uses for Annual Ragweed. In the Southwest, the Luiseño used it as an emetic (vomit inducer) and the Mahuna for issues with the skin and scalp.