Kochia

June 12, 2015

Kochia scoparia L. Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)

Life cycle

Erect, branched bushy summer annual.

kochia seedling
Kochia seedling.

Leaves

Cotyledons are narrowly elliptic, dull green above, purplish on the underside and covered in soft hairs. Hair-fringed leaves are alternate, lanceolate to elliptic with short or no petioles.

Stems

Erect, highly branched stem is moderately hairy and reaches heights up to 6 feet. Stems are round and generally red to purple.

grooved stem
Grooved stem.

Flowers and fruit

Green, inconspicuous flowers with long, hairy bracts are found in leaf axils on terminal panicles. Irregular, grooved brown seeds are enclosed by a bladder-like utricle.

kochia flowers and fruit
Kochia flowers and fruit.

Reproduction

Seeds.

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