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Taxon  Report  
Bassia hyssopifolia  (Pall.) Kuntze
Five horn bassia,   Fivehorn smotherweed
Bassia hyssopifolia is an annual herb that is not native to California.
Cal-IPC rating: limited
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Observation Search
~1086 records in California
redone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
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Bloom Period
Genus: Bassia
Family: Chenopodiaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands: Occurs usually in non wetlands, occasionally in wetlands

Habitat: disturbed

Communities: wetland-riparian, weed, characteristic of disturbed places

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
PLANTSEchinopsilon hyssopifolius
PLANTSKochia hyssopifolia
Information about  Bassia hyssopifolia from other sources

Mono Lake: Gull Nesting Grounds under threat from fivehorn smoth: L.A. Times: ... the gulls are facing a botanical invader they may not be able to overcome: thickets of invasive weeds that have engulfed most of their breeding grounds.

[Cal-IPC] Invasiveness: Bassia hyssopifolia (fivehook Bassia) is an annual herb (family Chenopodiaceae) found throughout California, except in high elevation areas in the northwestern region of the state and Sierra Nevada Mountains. It prefers wetland areas, alkaline habitats and disturbed places such as roadsides and fields. Fivehook Bassia is acceptable forage for sheep in small amounts, but the foliage can be toxic in large quantities. The plant produces copious amounts of seed, but small populations can be controlled by mechanically removing plants before seed set. Mowing and grazing are not suitable control methods, as the plants commonly resprout from the base after such treatment. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)

[Wikipedia] Parts of Asia, Eastern Europe native: Bassia hyssopifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, known by the common names five-horn smotherweed, five-hook bassia, and thorn orache.[1] It is native to parts of Asia and Eastern Europe, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species, including North and South America and Australia.[2] It is a weed, invasive at times. (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 04/30/2024).