Ambrosia Mexicana Dysphania botrys
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ambrosia mexicana
- Botrydium botrys
- Chenopodium botrys
- Phonetic Spelling
- dis-FAY-nee-a BOT-trees
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Goosefoot is an annual weed in the amaranth (Amaranthaceae) family and is native to Eurasia. It naturalizes easily and it is found in disturbed sites, like roadsides, gravel pits, empty lots and occasionally in wetland areas. It has naturalized in much of the USA and Mexico. The plant can grow to 2 feet tall and is freely branched from the base. The entire plant is covered in sticky glandular hairs.
Goosefoot blooms during the summer and sets many seeds. The pinnately lobed leaves help to identify this plant from the related Chenopodium species. It tolerates a variety of soils and full sun.
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:
- botrys
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used medicinally for its diuretic, antispasmodic, carminative, and antidiarrhoeic properties
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia
- Distribution:
- Has naturalized in much of the USA
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be used in cooking in moderation for flavoring.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- 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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Matures from green to blackish and loosely encases the flat oval seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Dried
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Petaless, dense fragrant tiny green-yellow flowers appear in axillary cymes in a long, terminal panicle in June-September. Green calyx with 5 lobes cups the flowers. Bracts are leaf-like but may be absent
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate to oblong green leaves are pinnately lobbed with shallow teeth and a wedge-shaped base. Upper leaves are usually entire. They are 1/2 to 1 & 1/2 inches long and 1/4 to 1 inch wide. Covered in sticky glandular hairs
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Freely branched from base and erect to ascending The stem is ridged with sticky glandular hairs
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
