Epazote Dysphania ambrosioides
Other Common Name(s):
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
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
