The tall yellow weed seen at this time of year along river banks and on waste ground is ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, known in Japanese as ブタクサ （豚草) lit. "pig grass."
This invasive plant is also a major source of allergy from the pollen on its yellow seeds and affects people who also suffer from allergies to the pollen from Japanese cypress (hinoki) and cryptomeria (sugi) trees.
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1 comment:
Hi there.
I noted that the picture you have provided is not ambrosia artemisiifolia (i.e. ragweed) and looks closer to the plant known as goldenrod. According to Wikipedia, a variant of goldenrod native to North America known as solidago canadensis has reportedly become an invasive species of plant in China and perhaps it has in parts of Japan as well, although I think your picture actually looks closer to the variant of goldenrod known as solidago altissima which is also native to North America. It is not uncommon for people to mistake goldenrod for ragweed because goldenrod happens to thrive in many of the same areas as ragweed and both plants happen to flower at around the same time. Given those who react to ragweed will more often notice goldenrod’s bright yellow flowers in areas where they are the most prone to their allergy symptoms, they will sometimes conclude that it is goldenrod who is the culprit.
Some helpful links on this subject with images of both plants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia_artemisiifolia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_canadensis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_altissima
http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=129
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bot00/bot00072.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg4eeQHqt7I
Cheers!
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