Kochia
June 12, 2015
Kochia scoparia L. Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)
Life cycle
Erect, branched bushy summer annual.
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.
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.
Reproduction
Seeds.
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