Ambrosia Mexicana
Chenopodium botrys · Amaranthaceae
How it looks
Ambrosia Mexicana is an herb with fine leaves divided in a feather-like form that give off a strong scent when crushed. The stem grows upright to nearly 3 ft (1 m), bearing small green to yellow flowers gathered in spikes. It closely resembles wormwood (Artemisia).
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Ambrosia Mexicana contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Ambrosia Mexicana rarely leads to serious trouble, but its ascaridole can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, gastrointestinal irritation
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Chenopodium botrys
- Common name
- Ambrosia Mexicana
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Ascaridole
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, gastrointestinal irritation
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
