#ragweed

[learnyouabiology]

Fun Fact: Goldenrod does NOT cause seasonal allergies!

At this time of year, I am suffering from seasonal allergies (ಥ_ಥ). And in honor of these seasonal allergies, I’d like to clear the good name of an innocent plant which has long been blamed for seasonal allergies.

Ahem:

Goldenrod is INNOCENT!!!!!

(I love goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS SLANDER)

Now, that isn’t to say that no one is allergic to goldenrod, at all. Some people are, indeed, allergic to this plant, but it is relatively rare and only cause reactions when direct physical contact takes place. These goldenrod allergies do NOT cause the stuffy noses and watery eyes that seasonal allergy sufferers are familiar with (and which I am currently suffering from 😭😭😭😭).

(an innocent bystander 😔)

“But wait!”, you may say, “Every year, without fail, seasonal allergies attack just as the goldenrod begins to bloom!” And this is a fair assumption! There are many times in life where the things we see are causing the things we experience. However, in this case, seasonal allergies and goldenrod flowers are connected by correlation, not causation.

How can I be so sure? Well, because goldenrod pollen is not airborne!

(they’re so good, so pure, so not-currently-attacking-my-airways)

Goldenrod is a plant which is pollinated by animals, primarily insects. Because of this, its pollen is big, heavy, delicious and can’t make it too far from the plant, even with a BIG gust of wind. Instead, an insect covered in goldenrod pollen will fly to a different goldenrod plant, transporting and delivering the pollen in a highly efficient manner, because that is where the plant intends for the pollen to go! Really, goldenrod pollen is unlikely to ever get into your nose (unless you sprinkle it in directly).

Instead, the culprit for your seasonal allergies is MUCH more likely to be an enemy you may have heard of: ragweed.

(*holds up sign that says “Audience Boos”*)

It just so happens that ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) both bloom around the same time, and in the same sorts of environments.

Goldenrod is bright yellow and extremely conspicuous, while ragweed.... well, it doesn’t exactly jump out, visually:

(I circled and labelled them because the ragweed doesn’t exactly… pop out of the picture. ©Janet Allen)

People notice their allergies and then notice the highly conspicuous goldenrod, and they consider the mystery solved. Meanwhile the ragweed remains, hidden in plain sight and the TRUE guilty party.

Ragweed is my eternal enemy the most common cause of seasonal allergies in North America. One reason for that is because ragweed, rather than being pollinated by insects, is instead pollinated via wind, which basically means the plants produce a LOT of very tiny, airborne pollen (about a billion particles per plant), and just hopes that one lands on a different ragweed plant eventually, travelling up to 600 km away. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, the vast majority of the pollen does not make it to another plant  and apparently ends up in my nose instead.

(things that do cause my allergies: ragweed, horses, and mold spores. Things that do NOT cause my allergies: goldenrod.)

Now, I am being a little bit mean to ragweed here, but in my defence, I cannot currently breathe through my nose as a direct result of ragweed, and it has put me in a mean sort of mood (ಠ╭╮ಠ). this is my villain origin story.

That said, I would be remiss not to mention that ragweed is native to North America (although they are VERY invasive in many other places in the world), and so it...  I’m sure... that ragweed... it contributes... to the ecosystem... somehow... and we should respect it... instead of assigning... subjective value judgements... to nature (I say, shaking, crying, visibly pained).

(a bumblebee (Bombus sp.) enjoying some goldenrod 🥰)

Goldenrod, on the other hand, is native to North America and is ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS, simply because pollinators LOVE these flowers! I can sit for literal HOURS at a single plant, watching the dozens of different pollinators coming and going. It is also invasive in many other places in the world but THIS ISN’T ABOUT THAT 😭😉😉😉

This has been Fun Fact Friday, where I will defend the honour of goldenrod with my life!

(also: guys there are SO MANY pictures of goldenrod on the internet mislabeled as ragweed, it’s actually blowing my mind. Stock image sites are particularly terrible about this. THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH.)

#biology #plants #allergies #science #ecology #science side of tumblr #sciblr #STEM #fun facts #fun fact friday #adhd in STEM #ragweed #goldenrod

[3rdeyeblaque]

Root of the Month for May 2023: Ragweed

Taxa(Family/Genus/species):  Asteraceae/Ambrosia/artemissifolia or trifida

Folk Nomenclature: N/A

Common Name: Ragweed, Low Ragweed, Annual Ragweed, Ambrosia

Native Locality: Tropics & Subtropics of Southwestern USA & Northwestern Mexico; can be growing in fields, gardens, roadsides, etc. all across the U.S - most abundantly in the Eastern & Midwestern states. 

Phenotypic Traits: Grows upright growing eaves that look almost fern-like, feathery and green. You will also notice that ragweed leaves look hairy. The flowers on the plant are also useful for ragweed identification. The flowers on ragweed are yellow and long, like streamers; similar to Goldenrod

Parts Used: Leaves

Gender: Cold

Planetary Ruler: Venus

Elemental Ruler: Water

Traditional Usage in Rootwork: Used to drive away all fear. Useful for when a boost of courage is needed

Traditional Medicinal Usage: Soothes irritation from insect bites. Eases nausea, menstrual discomfort, skin infections, & fever. Can also be used a laxative. PLEASE NOTE: Ragweed pollen is a major seasonal allergy trigger.

🌟 FINAL copies of The 2023 Hoodoo's Calendar are available for purchase! Subscribe to the official e-newsletter for the latest updates & exclusive content access. https://thehoodoocalendar.square.site 🌟

#ragweed #rootwork #rootworkers #rootworking #juju #the hoodoo calendar #hoodoo #hudu #hoodoos #ambrosia #medicinal #traditional medicine #herbalism

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Goldenrods

It’s nowhere near the fall hayfever season, but I thought I’d PSA anyway.

Hayfever is caused by RAGWEED (Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida where I live).

NOT. Goldenrod (Solidago, Oligoneuron, Euthamia). It is impossible for goldenrods to even cause hayfever since their pollen isn’t released to the wind. Goldenrods are beautiful, with some edible parts, some medicinal properties, and middle of summer through fall pollenators love them.

Non-exhaustive list of goldenrods

Euthamia graminifolia (Flat-top goldenrod):

Oligoneuron rigida (Stiff goldenrod):

Solidago bicolor (Silverrod):

Solidago caesia (Blue-stem goldenrod):

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod):

Solidago flexicaulis (Zigzag goldenrod):

Solidago juncea (Early goldenrod):

Solidago missouriensis (Prairie goldenrod):

Solidago multiradiata (Alpine goldenrod):

Solidago nemoralis (Gray goldenrod):

Solidago odora (Anise-scented goldenrod):

Solidago ohiensis (Ohio goldenrod):

Solidago patula (Rough-leaf goldenrod):

Solidago ptarmicoides (Upland white aster):

Solidago rugosa (Wrinkleleaf goldenrod):

Solidago simplex (Spike goldenrod):

Solidago speciosa (Showy goldenrod):

Solidago uliginosa (Bog goldenrod):

The only drawback is that many goldenrod species spread a lot and quickly if you don’t keep on top of those rhizomes. But if you need to fill a space in a relatively short period of time, why not try some in your garden? They’ll grow up green through spring and summer and put on a show in the fall (earlier depending on the species)! 

#long image post #goldenrods #hayfever #ragweed #Ambrosia #Solidago #Oligoneuron #Euthamia #flowers #yellow flowers #native species of North America #North American native plants #pollinator plants

[silverjirachi]

anyone else read “poppy” as a child and get so fucked up that that little mouse’s fiancee ragweed got eaten by a fuckin owl on page like 3. then her bitchass married that boy rye. justice for ragweed.

#i feel very strongly about this #yes i read the ragweed book too and it was better #poppy #ragweed

[metal-bubble]

🏵️🌼 Dusty Ambrosia 🌼🏵️

"Well, make a wish, baby..

And I will make it come true..

Make a list baby, of the things I'll do for you.."

Moonbin & Sanha, Astro

Lyrics + imagery: Ambrosia, Biggest Part Of Me, 1980 / Ambrosia flower, aka - Ragweed

#astro #ddankong #arohaclub #moonbin #sanha #astro fanart #kpopfanart #kpop #ink drawing #아스트로 #문빈 #윤산하 #ambrosia #biggest part of me #ragweed

[snzstuff]

So yesterday my gf and I were cleaning up around outside our house trying to make it look better and I had checked the pollen count and saw it was going to be high so I took my medicine hoping it would help with being outside and I was so wrong. After about 10 minutes of being outside I had my first sneezing fit and it was a decently long fit. After the fit ended I went back to what I was doing and tried to get the work down but just kept having fits every few minutes which made it hard. A little while later my gf came over to where I was and as soon as she got close I went to turn to talk to her and when I turned I hit something with my shoulder knocking it down and creating a big puff of dust and I think pollen blow right in my face as I was kneeling on the ground and I started another fit and this one lasted a lot longer than the first couple and my gf just leaned down and rubbed my back the whole time and when the sneezes finally started to die down she blessed me and said “I think you nose has been through enough for one day we can finish tomorrow or the next day.” and then she smiled and kissed my nose which sent me into another fit because my nose was so sensitive.

#my gf is the cutest ever #hate fall allergies #allergies #allergy #ragweed #Snz fit #snz things #snz blog

[halloweenvalentine1997]

#ragweed #babes in toyland #painkillers #Spotify

[dragonfang-photography]

Goldenrod; Solidago canadensis

#Bruce Trail #Sydenham section #Niagara Escarpment #Bruce County #Ontario #Canada #hiking #hiking trail #forest #trees #wilderness #outdoors #flowers #goldenrod #ragweed #Solidago canadensis #yellow #flora #vegetation #photography #digital photography #DSLR #Canon 6D #photographers on Tumblr

[crudlynaturephotos]

#bursage #ragweed #ambrosia #microflora #burrs #weeds #wildflowers #griffith park #burbank

[bog--unicorn]

flowers of the meadow, mid-August

#my pics #joe pye weed #ragweed #aster #??? #cornflower #goldenrod

[darrisgrove]

Ragweed by Avi REVIEW

3/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐

This took me a while to finish. I found it to be okay, but likely forgettable.

The characters were interesting, but I felt the city talk was kind of forced and unnatural. I didn't know what they were saying sometimes.

That's really all I have to say about this book. It was okay and that's it.

Here are my notes during reading. WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW -Ragweed can read English. -The cats are racists. -Blinker is probably named that because he blinks along. Little man cannot see. -Blinker and Ragweed have similar stories. Ragweed wants to leave the country to explore the city and Blinker wants to leave his house to explore the city. I honestly find more interest in Blinker's story. -"An amateur worries about the work before starting; a professional worries about the work when finished." -"Keep on living till we die. No other way. And there's nothing we can do about it. But hey, baby, live with regrets and you'll wind up regretting living." -Towards the end, I realized Ragweed is just train hopping.

#elven legions #elven readers #book recommendations #book review #books #books and reading #goodreads #storygraph #elven reader #ragweed #ragweed avi #the poppy stories

[poetic-judgment]

#poetic-judgment #Ragweed #haley heynderickx #spotify

[mothmiso]

Wallonia (2) (3) (4) by Pascale Franche

#cats #flowers #ragwort #ragweed #st. john's wort #belgium #wallonia

[laurahepworth-author]

Warning: mini-rant! How can it be in the twenties (with windchill in the teens) and have snow on the ground and yet still have a high ragweed pollen count!?!?! I want to write and I want to read, but I feel miserable and my sinuses are burning like mad.

#writer problems #writers life #i hate allergies #ragweed #allergies #i feel miserable #mini rant

[petiolata]

Went for an early morning walk--bad idea. I forgot my mask -_-

(There wasn't many ppl out, because 630am, but the ragweed levels are super high rn in the morning and I also wear it to help with that. Now im sneezing 😭)

#pollen #allergies #ragweed #masking #it does help with seasonal allergies imo #op #personal

[personalized-plates]

RAGWEED

#ragweed #allergies #allergy #Lexus rx 400 #lexus rx #lexus #ohio #vanity license plate #vanity license plates #vanity plates #vanity plate #custom license plate