Bassia scoparia is a large annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae (sensu lato) native to Eurasia. It has been introduced to many parts of North America, where it is found in grassland, prairie, and desert shrub ecosystems. Its common names include summer cypress, mock-cypress, kochia, belvedere, World's Fair plant, burningbush, Mexican firebrush, and Mexican fireweed, with the latter three names referring to the herb's red autumn foliage.
Description
The fruit of Bassia scoparia with the calyx attached is dull brown, but when hulled, it reveals dull black seeds, or dark to blackish-brown seeds in some escaped regions, such as Europe.
The seeds are dispersed by wind and water and are transported when the whole plant detaches and rolls on the wind as a tumbleweed. The seed does not persist in the soil seed bank, dying within about a year if it fails to germinate.
The species is a C4 plant, specifically of the NADP-ME type.
It develops herbicide resistance unusually quickly, and quadruple-resistant populations have developed in North America.
Bassia scoparia is native to a region ranging from Central Europe to Asia and is now widespread throughout the world. While having a variety of beneficial uses, it is also considered an invasive weed.
Close-up photo of Bassia scoparia taken outdoors in natural light. Captured in India
Taxonomy
The species was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, who named it Chenopodium scoparium. In 1809, it was placed in the genus Kochia by Heinrich Schrader. It was transferred to Bassia in 1978 by Andrew J. Scott. Kochia was included in Bassia in 2011 following phylogenetic studies.
Uses
This plant is grown as an ornamental plant as evergreen foliage for landscapes, as well as for its red fall foliage. It has also been useful in erosion control on denuded soils. It has been suggested as an agent of phytoremediation, because it is a hyperaccumulator of chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, zinc, and uranium.
