Ambrosia maritima

Sea ambrosia

AsteraceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves are used to flavor soup.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows in open spaces and near rivers.

Africa, Albania, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Europe, France, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tanzania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, West Africa,

Countries: Andorra, Albania, Angola, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Belarus, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Iceland, Italy, Kenya, Comoros, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Mali, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sierra Leone, San Marino, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A herb. It has a woody rootstock and can last a few years. It grows 1 m high. The stems have lines along them. The flowers are small and greenish-yellow.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Ambrosia maritima, the sea ragweed, is a species of herb in the family Asteraceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 40 cm (16 in).

Notes

Many plants in this genus cause hay fever and asthma.

Names & Synonyms

Baaba, Manariandro, Matsermama

Ambrosia senegalensis DC.

References (6)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 23
Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 55
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 183
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 33
Sp. pl. 2:988. 1753