Paico 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 high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Mexican tea is an annual or short-lived perennial weed in the Amaranthaceae (buckwheat) family from tropical Americas. Both the stems and leaves have minute glands that secrete an aromatic oil that exudes a musky somewhat malodorous scent. It is weedy in disturbed areas of cultivated fields, roadsides, streamsides, and waste places. It is self or wind-pollinated and readily reseeds itself.
- 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:
- America & Subantarctic Islands
- Distribution:
- Throughout
- Wildlife Value:
- Songbirds and mice will eat the seeds
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heat
- Edibility:
- Leaves are used in teas and various Mexican dishes
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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 Description:
- Fruits are small and greenish, with black seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- 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
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The oval leaves are up to 4" long and 1½" across and are medium green to yellow-green or red-green. The bases are always wedge-shaped and the margins vary even on the same plant from smooth to toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are round and hairless with many veins in colors of green, dull red and cream.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
