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Wormseed 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

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:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#weedy#aromatic#high maintenance#fast growing#NC native#tropical perennials#spreading#self-seeding#wind pollinated#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#weedy#aromatic#high maintenance#fast growing#NC native#tropical perennials#spreading#self-seeding#wind pollinated#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • 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 Description:
    Fruits are small and greenish, with black seeds.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    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