Plant Image
Flower head
Willow Lake - Sue Smith


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Kochia scoparia - mock cypress

Synonyms: Bassia scoparia, Bassia sieversiana
Other Common Names: mexican fire weed, kohia, mirabel
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Chenopodiaceae


   
 
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Flower head
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Leaf attachment
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Leaves
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Plant - summer
Willow Lake
Sue Smith
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Annual   Similar Species: Kochia americana, Kochia prostrata
General Desc: Annual branching forb, stems with minute grooves, erect and much-branched, herbage somewhat hairy with long scattered hairs.
Identification notes: 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).
Height: To 48 inches


Habitat

Habitat Description: Saline or alkaline soils, in fields, pastures, rangelands, and disturbed areas.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: Below 4875 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow     Shape: Regular in elongated clusters     Tubular: N     Flowering Period: Aug - Oct
Description: 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.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green     Leaf Type: Simple     Leaf Shape: Narrow     Leaf Margin: Smooth     Leaf Attachment: Alternate     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves     Spines: N
Leaf Description: 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.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Yellow   
Fruit Notes: Small, bladderlike, thin-walled not splitting open, compressed-round.
Seed Notes: One seed per fruit. Seed horizontal, brownish, less than 1/16 inch wide, wedge-shaped, flat, slightly ribbed.



  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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