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Dysphania ambrosioides is often confused with:
Chenopodium album Chenopodium album
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clematis paniculata Clematis paniculata
Ipomoea tricolor Flower with bee
Lantana camara Lantana camara flower

Dysphania ambrosioides

Previously known as:

  • Chenopodium ambrosioides
Phonetic Spelling
dis-FAY-nee-a am-bro-zhee-OH-id-eez
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Mexican tea is an annual or short-lived perennial weed in the buckwheat (Amaranthaceae) family from tropical Americas. The plant will grow 2-5 feet tall with many irregular side branches and is weedy in cultivated fields, roadsides, streamsides, and waste places. It is self or wind-pollinated and readily reseeds. Both the stems and leaves have minute glands that secrete an aromatic oil that exudes a musky somewhat malodorous scent. 

The specific epithet ambrosioides refers to the plant's resemblance to unrelated plants in the Aster family

This plant does best in full sun and moderately fertile moist well-drained soil. However, it is also found growing in sandy and rocky soils of disturbed sites. It flowers during the summer into fall and sets numerous seeds.

The plant was used to help remove intestinal worms but the dose needed can be toxic. The leaves are also used in Mexican dishes and helps to negate the gas-causing effects of beans.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Weedy

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#fragrant leaves#high maintenance#fast growing#spreading#deer resistant#self-seeding#wind pollinated#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical#short-lived perennials#annual#weed#weedy
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#fragrant leaves#high maintenance#fast growing#spreading#deer resistant#self-seeding#wind pollinated#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical#short-lived perennials#annual#weed#weedy
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Dysphania
    Species:
    ambrosioides
    Family:
    Amaranthaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Because of its anthelmintic properties, Mexican tea has been used to remove intestinal worms. This is one of the reasons it is cultivated as a medicinal herb.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South America
    Distribution:
    North and South America, Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Songbirds, gamebirds and mice will eat the seeds
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    heat
    Edibility:
    Leaves are used in teas and as a leafy green and in various Mexican dishes.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Irregular
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The achenes are small and oval with persistent sepals that curve inward. The small seeds are nearly black and egg-shaped.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The upper stems and smaller side stems terminate in 1 inch long spikes of stemless flowers that are interspersed with small leafy bracts. The 1/4 inch individual greenish flowers are arranged in dense clusters along these spikes. It blooms mid-summer to fall.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The green to yellow-green leaves have wedge-shaped bases and are 3-4 inches long and 1.5 inches across. The margins vary on the same plant from smooth to lobed to toothed. Leaves are dotted with oil-secreting glands that give off a strong odor
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are round and hairless with conspicuous veins in colors of green, dull red and cream. Stems are also dotted with oil-secreting glands.
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Nausea, headache, hallucinations, vomiting, convulsions, and coma if the seeds are eaten in large amounts.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Terpene peroxide ascaridole and others
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Seeds