Scientific Family
Chenopodiaceae
Synonyms
Bassia scoparia, Bassia sieversiana
Other common names
mexican fire weed
kohia
mirabel
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Kochia americana, Kochia prostrata
Height
To 48 inches
Riparian
No
Annual branching forb, stems with minute grooves, erect and much-branched, herbage somewhat hairy with long scattered hairs.
The highly branched nature of this plant and the hairs that occur along the leaf margins are characteristics that help distinguish this weed from most other species. Young seedlings may be confused with common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album).
Habitat
Saline or alkaline soils, in fields, pastures, rangelands, and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4875
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads are interrupted spikes, both terminal and axial. Flowers are sessile and subtended by 5 leaflike bracts. Flowers greenish, <1/16 inch, perfect, no petals, 5 exserted stamens and 2 to 3 stigmas.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves sessile, narrow, up to 4 inches long, thin, flat, upper surface smooth, short-soft-hairs are usually found on the lower surface, 3 to 5-veined below middle.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Small, bladderlike, thin-walled not splitting open, compressed-round.
Fruit type
Other
Fruit color
Yellow
One seed per fruit. Seed horizontal, brownish, less than 1/16 inch wide, wedge-shaped, flat, slightly ribbed.