Western Ragweed, W2

Western Ragweed is an erect, coarse herbaceous perennial with a creeping rootstock. The leaves are soft, green and opposite or alternate. The leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, hairy, and with irregularly toothed margins. Its foliage is similar to that of False Ragweed, but its burs are shaped like those of Giant Ragweed. Unlike Ragweed and Giant Ragweed, Western Ragweed can reproduce vegetatively from creeping roots (rhizomes), which often gives it a straight-line pattern across lawns and waste areas.

Western Ragweed flowers from July to November. It is wind-pollinated, releasing millions of pollen grains into the air. However, the presence of the pollen in honey indicates some insect pollination. The plant is monoecious (male and female organs are separate, but occur on the same plant), with the staminate (pollen-producing) heads at the leafless tips of the branches, and the single-flowered pistillate (seed-producing) heads clustered lower down. The fruits are small burs, with the involucre, sometimes slightly spiny or beaked, enclosing the fruit.

Western Ragweed occurs on plains, dry fields, meadows and prairies, but also along roadsides and in waste places. It spreads rapidly and becomes a pest, especially when it invades cultivated lands and pastures. If dairy cows eat it, their milk becomes bitter. The leaves of the plant are used in herbal medications. A tea made from the roots is used as a herbal remedy. The pollen is harvested commercially and manufactured into homeopathic preparations for the treatment of allergies to the plant.

Western Ragweed pollen can induce asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.

• Postpone the process of testing immediately after paraclinical studies (roentgen, TC, MRI) and physiotherapy procedures. They can affect test results.

• We recommend avoiding physical activity prior to your examination.