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Summer cypress

Bassia scoparia

Summary 8

Bassia scoparia (burning bush/summer cypress/kochia) is a non-native, annual forb that is in the Amaranthaceae family. This plant was introduced in North America from Eurasia and can be found in many ecosystems. This plant's scientific name was changed officially in 2016 from Kochia scoparia to Bassia scoparia.

Botanical Information 9

The plant that we chose to research about is called summer cypress. Some other ways to call summer cypress are ¨Kochia scoparia¨ or ¨cipres de verano¨. The scientific name for summer cypress is Bassia scoparia. It is prickly like a cactus. It is bushy and can be pink, green, purple, or blue. It is an annual herb that grows up to 2 meters tall. The flowers are tiny, greenish-yellow, indistinct, and bloom from the leaf axils (the upper side of the leaf and stem).

Ecological Information 10

Summer cypress has been introduced to many parts of North America where it is found in grasslands, prairie, and desert shrubs ecosystems. Summer cypress loves to grow in grasslands with lots of exposure to sunlight, and some moisture. Wild turkeys, squirrels, wood ducks, waterfowl, and wading birds love to eat the summer cypress plant. Some interesting facts about the summer cypress is that animals love to eat its seeds, and that summer cypress are generally restricted to moist soil. They are wind-pollinated plants and often contribute to hay fever.

Ethnobotanical Information 11

Summer cypress has known edible and medicinal uses coming from Eurasia where it was originally found. For example, it has been used in Chinese and Korean folk medicine in the treatment of skin disorders, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and liver disorders including jaundice according to the U.S. Forest Service document in the Fire Effects Information System. Additionally the seeds specifically contain compounds that may be useful in fighting human pathogenic bacteria. In Japan, documents have examples of the fresh fruit being used as a garnish in cooking and the seeds are used to grind into flour for baking. In addition, the seeds contain a pheromone that attracts mosquitoes and may be added to mosquito pesticides. (Note: Ethnobotanical reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.)

References 12

Brantley, S. L., Cartron, J. E., Lightfoot, D. C., Lowrey, T. K., Mygatt, J. E. (2008). A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (pp. 76). University of New Mexico Press.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Bassia scoparia. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved September 5, 2021, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=BASC5

Esser, L.L. (1995). Bassia scoparia. U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Fire Effects Information System. Retrieved September 5, 2021, from https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/bassco/all.html

About the Author 13

Student author*: Bella and Luz (age 13) from South Valley Academy

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) HermannFalkner/sokol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/hermannherbarium/6173265260/
  2. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5129371229/
  3. (c) José María Escolano, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/valdelobos/4888187777/
  4. (c) HermannFalkner/sokol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/hermannherbarium/6172737425/
  5. (c) Gertjan van Noord, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/gertjanvannoord/48630740201/
  6. (c) Patrick Alexander, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspidoscelis/2772579314/
  7. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5129971536/
  8. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassia_scoparia
  9. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) kristen_himm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  10. Adapted by smiller33 from a work by (c) kristen_himm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  11. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  12. Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  13. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

Range Map

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

iNat Map

Type forb, herb
Native no
Life cycle annual
Uses livestock grazing, medicinal
Flower green
Habitat arid and semi-arid
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