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Glite Dictionary
Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

9.9
A North American weed called common ragweed with many thin leaves and green flower spikes that makes pollen causing allergies
  • noun
  • /æmˈbroʊziə ˌɑrtəˌmɪziˈɪfɔliə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ambrosía artemisiifolia
  • Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a major cause of seasonal allergies in many parts of the United States.

Examples

  • The Ambrosia artemisiifolia plant can grow up to three feet tall.

  • Efforts are underway to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe, where it was accidentally introduced.

  • The rapid spread of Ambrosia artemisiifolia has become a concern for local farmers.

  • Look at that Ambrosia artemisiifolia!

  • Ambrosia artemisiifolia is known for producing pollen that triggers allergic reactions in many individuals.

  • In the late summer, Ambrosia artemisiifolia releases large amounts of pollen, causing discomfort for allergy sufferers.

  • Ambrosia artemisiifolia can be identified by its coarse leaves and green flower spikes during the growing season.

Synonyms

common ragweed
vsAmbrosia artemisiifolia
  • US
5.7

A North American weed with many small green flowers that often cause hay fever

is the scientific Latin name used in formal botanical contexts

Surface Forms

Ambrosia artemisiifolia singular
Ambrosia artemisiifolias plural

Morphology

ambrosia + artemisiifolia

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than a compositional English phrase; the second element 'artemisiifolia' is a specialist Latin epithet (not a common English word) and is not interpretable by an average B1 learner. Even if a learner knows 'ambrosia' as a ragweed genus, the overall meaning 'common ragweed' is not transparently derivable from the given constituents, so it functions as an opaque lexical item for most learners.

Etymology

Ambrosia artemisiifolia may come from the old Greek word Ambrosia, meaning 'food of the gods', because the plant's flowers were once noticed for their strong smell. Today this plant is a common 'weed' called common ragweed, and it makes lots of tiny pollen that causes 'allergy' in many people.