Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.
Family: Chenopodiaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

kochia, summer cypress

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit with attached perianth bracts

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Disseminule a fruit with attached perianth bracts (calyx). Fruit calyx 5-lobed, ca. 2–3 mm wide, segments ovate, glabrous to ciliate or sparsely hairy, usually with knob-like tubercles or sometimes short horizontal wings in fruit (tubercles or wings <1 mm long or wide), membranous, obscurely veined.

Fruit a utricle, ± obovate in outline, compressed, pericarp membranous.

Seed horizontal within fruit, ± obovate in outline, compressed, (1)1.5–2.2 mm long x 0.8–1.5 mm wide x 0.5–1 mm thick. Surface semiglossy, wrinkled, brown to black, with a groove that traces the central position of the perisperm.

Hilum at base, nondescript.

Embryo annular, surrounding copious perisperm.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI