

Smotherweeds
Botanical name: Bassia
Smotherweeds
Botanical name: Bassia


Description

Smotherweeds are a small genus, most of which are adapted to thrive in salty soils. Several members of this family can cause problems because they are toxic to animals including sheep. plants of this genus are typically found in arid habitats and some introduced species are considered invasive.


Species of Smotherweeds


Burning bush
Other names for burning bush (Bassia scoparia subsp. scoparia) include summer cypress, mock cypress, Mexican firebrush, and Mexican fireweed. It’s a member of the amaranth family and is indigenous to Eurasia. It disperses its seed by detaching part of itself from the mother plant. It then rolls around on the ground like a tumbleweed.

Summer cypress
Summer cypress (Bassia scoparia) is a member of the amaranth family. This family also includes quinoa and beets. It's indigenous to Europe and Asia. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil with an abundance of sunlight. In the autumn, these bushes turn a deep crimson color.

Bassia diffusa
Bassia diffusa are a small genus, most of which are adapted to thrive in salty soils. Several members of this family can cause problems because they are toxic to animals including sheep. Plants of this genus are typically found in arid habitats and some introduced species are considered invasive.

Fivehorn smotherweed
This species is an annual herb with simple or branching stems usually growing up to a metre tall, or sometimes taller. The leaf blades are flat and linear to lance-shaped. The lowest leaves are up to 6 centimetres long. The inflorescence is a short, narrow spike occupying the upper stem. It is lined with woolly-haired flowers growing solitary, paired, or in clusters of three.




Scientific Classification

Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Amaranth Genus
Smotherweeds