Bassia scoparia

Bassia scoparia is a large annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae native to Eurasia. It has been introduced to many parts of North America,[1] where it is found in grassland, prairie, and desert shrub ecosystems.[2] Its common names include burningbush,[1] ragweed, summer cypress,[2] mock-cypress, kochia, belvedere, Mexican firebrush, and Mexican fireweed.[3]

Bassia scoparia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Bassia
Species:
B. scoparia
Binomial name
Bassia scoparia
Synonyms

Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.

Biology

The seed of Bassia scoparia is dispersed by wind and water, and it is transported when the whole plant detaches and rolls on the wind as a tumbleweed.[2] The seed does not persist in the soil seed bank, dying within about a year if it fails to germinate.[2]

The species is a C4 plant, specifically of the NADP-ME type.[4][5]

Uses

This plant is grown as an ornamental for its red fall foliage. It has also been useful in erosion control on denuded soils.[6] It has been suggested as an agent of phytoremediation,[6] because it is a hyperaccumulator of chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, zinc,[7] and uranium.[8] B. scoparia contains higher levels of protein and oxalate than most grasses and fodder plants, thus it also serves as a good forage crop for livestock. When grown as ornamental plant, it is a good choice as evergreen foliage plant for landscapes.[9]

Tonburi
Tonburi

In Japan the seeds are used a food garnish called tonburi (とんぶり) (Japanese). Because its texture is similar to caviar, it has been called "land caviar", "field caviar", and "mountain caviar". It is a chinmi, or delicacy, in Akita prefecture. The glossy, greenish black seeds are dried, boiled, soaked, and then rubbed by hand to remove the skin.

Traditional medicine

The seeds are used in traditional Chinese medicine to help regulate disorders such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and atherosclerosis. In a study of mice fed a high-fat diet, an extract of the seeds limited obesity.[10] They contain momordin Ic, a triterpene saponin.[11]

Forage

The plant is a moderately useful forage for livestock, especially on dry lands.[12] However, its use is limited by its toxicity in large quantities.[13] Livestock ingesting large amounts can experience weight loss, hyperbilirubinemia, photosensitization, and polyuria.[14]

Broom

In Serbia, the plant is used to make brooms,[15] which are produced by simply tying several dried plants together, using the branches as the broom head and the stems as the handle; this is convenient since the broom needs no separate handle.[15]

Systematics

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.[4]

gollark: That is not much of an issue. The carbon dioxide production from them is. If we ran out somehow, it would be possible to synthesize more (with energy input, obviously).
gollark: Also, I think there are some nuclear plane concepts? Generally they use the heat from the nuclear stuff directly in some way.
gollark: This is probably far beyond the life expectancy of a plane.
gollark: > And also if you have a kerosene powered plane it will become useless in however many years when a drop of oil costs $100
gollark: They aren't exactly emojis. You cannot put them inline in messages.

See also

References
  1. Bassia scoparia. USDA PLANTS. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  2. Kochia scoparia. Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine USFS Fire Effects Information System.
  3. "Bassia scoparia". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  4. Kadereit, Gudrun; Freitag, Helmut (2011). "Molecular phylogeny of Camphorosmeae (Camphorosmoideae, Chenopodiaceae): Implications for biogeography, evolution of C4-photosynthesis and taxonomy". Taxon. 60 (1): 51–78.
  5. Muhaidat R, Sage RF, Dengler NG (March 2007). "Diversity of Kranz anatomy and biochemistry in C4 eudicots". American Journal of Botany. 94 (3): 362–81. doi:10.3732/ajb.94.3.362. PMID 21636407.
  6. Casey, P.A. (2009). "Plant guide for kochia (Kochia scoparia)" (PDF). Manhattan, Kansas: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kansas Plant Materials Center.
  7. McCutcheon; Schnoor (2003). Phytoremediation. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
  8. Schmidt U (2003). "Enhancing phytoextraction: the effect of chemical soil manipulation on mobility, plant accumulation, and leaching of heavy metals". Journal of Environmental Quality. 32 (6): 1939–54. doi:10.2134/jeq2003.1939. PMID 14674516.
  9. "Kochia Scoparia". The Lovely Plants. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  10. Han LK, Nose R, Li W, et al. (October 2006). "Reduction of fat storage in mice fed a high-fat diet long term by treatment with saponins prepared from Kochia scoparia fruit". Phytotherapy Research. 20 (10): 877–82. doi:10.1002/ptr.1981. PMID 16892459.
  11. Matsuda H, Li Y, Yamahara J, Yoshikawa M (May 1999). "Inhibition of gastric emptying by triterpene saponin, momordin Ic, in mice: roles of blood glucose, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, and central nervous system". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 289 (2): 729–34. PMID 10215646.
  12. Rankins DL, Smith GS, Hallford DM (July 1991). "Serum constituents and metabolic hormones in sheep and cattle fed Kochia scoparia hay". Journal of Animal Science. 69 (7): 2941–6. PMID 1885403.
  13. Rankins DL, Smith GS, Hallford DM (September 1991). "Effects of metoclopramide on steers fed Kochia scoparia hay". Journal of Animal Science. 69 (9): 3699–705. PMID 1938652.
  14. Rankins DL, Smith GS, Hallford DM (July 1991). "Altered metabolic hormones, impaired nitrogen retention, and hepatotoxicosis in lambs fed Kochia scoparia hay". Journal of Animal Science. 69 (7): 2932–40. PMID 1885402.
  15. "Hero korova metla 2012" (in Serbian). Retrieved 2017-01-16.
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