Kochia
J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(1): 307. 1801.
| Taxon | Illustrator ⠉ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Axyris amaranthoides Bassia hyssopifolia Kochia scoparia subsp. scoparia Kochia americana | Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey |
Herbs and subshrubs, annual or perennial, glabrous or densely tomentose-sericeous. Stems erect, ascending, or prostrate, simple or branched, not jointed, not armed, not fleshy; branches alternate [proximal sometimes almost opposite]. Leaves alternate [rarely proximal almost opposite], sessile (sometimes narrowed into pseudopetiole); blade obovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, linear, or filiform, flat or semiterete, base truncate, margins entire, apex rounded. Inflorescences terminal, spicate or paniculately branched; flowers solitary or in 2–5-flowered clusters in axils of bracts; bracts leaflike. Flowers bisexual or pistillate, sessile; perianth segments 5, with horizontal, membranous wing [sometimes reduced to slightly winged tubercles] adaxially; stamens 5; stigmas 2–3. Fruiting structures: perianth covering utricles at maturity, utricles compressed-spheric or compressed-elliptic; pericarp free or nearly so, membranous. Seeds wedge-shaped; seed-coat dull brown, slightly ribbed; embryo annular; perisperm copious. x = 9.
Distribution
North America, Eurasia, Africa, some species nearly worldwide (as )
Discussion
Species 13–16 (3 in the flora).
Kochia occurs mostly in steppe, desert, and semidesert zones.
Selected References
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Annual herbs; proximal cauline leaves usually (1-)3-5-veined, distinctly cuneate at base, sometimes narrowed into pseudopetiole [17a. Kochia sect. Semibassia] | Kochia scoparia |
| 1 | Subshrubs, stem bases woody; all leaves 1-veined (or vein obscure), sessile [17b. Kochia sect. Neokochia] | > 2 |
| 2 | Stems abundantly branched near base, distal parts simple or nearly so, finely white- tomentose or becoming glabrous; leaves usually overlapping | Kochia americana |
| 2 | Stems solitary or little-branched at base, branched throughout, grayish or brownish puberulent; leaves generally not overlapping | Kochia californica |