Bassia scoparia is an extremely variable species. Several forms, varieties, and subspecies have been described. Of these taxa, the most widespread in China is probably var. (or subsp.) scoparia, whereas plants with lower branches arcuate, axis of inflorescence distinctly pubescent, and flowers surrounded by a dense tuft of long hairs exceeding the perianth segments have been called var. subvillosa.. The nomenclature of this latter variety is extremely confused; in particular, it has been called Kochia densiflora Turcz. Ex Aellen, whilst several other names have been misapplied to this entity.
The species also has a horticultural form, f. Trichophylla (A. Voss) Stapf ex Schinz & Thellung, which is characterized by plants appearing ovoid or obovoid (“cypresslike”), with crowded branches, and leaves narrower[].

Common Name: Summer Cypress

General Information

Bassia scoparia is a very variable, erect, annual plant. Some forms are unbranched, whilst others are freely branched and often form pyramidal or rounded tops. Leaf form also varies considerably. Plants can grow from 50 - 150cm tall[].
The plant has a wide range of uses as a food, medicine and as a broom. It is cultivated as a food crop in China[], and is grown in several countries for use as a broom[, , ]. It can be used in restoration projects on mine spill sites and other degraded areas. The plant, especially the form known as Bassia scoparia trichophylla is often grown as an ornamental, where it makes an excellent short-term screen.
Bassia scoparia has spread to many countries as a result of human activity and is considered a noxious weed in some, such as Australia and parts of N. America[]. One plant can produce over 50,000 seeds per year under favorable conditions, but only 5 seeds per year under stressful conditions[].

Known Hazards

Plants contain some saponins and should not be eaten in large quantities. Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].
Although generally considered to be good forage, the plant may cause photosensitization and polioencephalomalacia if eaten by grazing animals as a large part of their diet[]. Toxic nephrosis and toxic hepatitis may also occur[].
Toxic substances identified in the plant include saponins, alkaloids, nitrates, and oxalates[]

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - Russia from Europe to the Far East, Turkey, Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan, China, Japan, Korea,

Habitat

Roadsides, ditches and wasteland in western N. America[]. Found mainly in grassland, mixed-grass prairie, shortgrass prairie, sagebrush, and desert shrub communities of western North America[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Bassia scoparia is found mainly in continental climates, where summers can be hot and dry. Seedlings can germinate at low temperatures and are frost tolerant1050].
An easily grown plant[], it succeeds in ordinary garden soil[]. Succeeds in any reasonably fertile light well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[]. Tolerates saline soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant, with a root system that can descend 2.4 metres or more and spread laterally up to 6.6 metres[].
The plant is allelopathic, inhibiting the early growth of other summer-cypress seedlings as well as growth of other plant species[, ].
A major means of seed dissemination is a 'tumbleweed' dispersal mechanism via stem abscission[].
The subspecies Bassia scoparia trichophylla. (Schmeiss.)Schinz.&Thell. Is the form most often found in cultivation as an ornamental in Britain[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[, ]. A delicious taste, they are used as a vegetable[]. A nutritional analysis is available[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Seed - dried and ground into a powder then mixed with cereals when making bread, biscuits etc[, , ]. Very small and fiddly to use, it is also not a very reliable crop in Britain due to its late season of flowering[]. On a zero moisture basis, the seed contains 20.4 - 27.5% protein, 8.8 - 16% fat and 3.4 - 9.4% ash[].
The seed contains saponins[].

Medicinal

The seeds, shoots, and leaves are used medicinally, and to all are attributed cardiotonic, diuretic and restorative properties[, ].

The seeds and fruits are also antibacterial, antifungal, antiphlogistic and astringent[, ]. They are prescribed in the treatment of fevers, colds, intercostal neuralgia, hernia, dysentery, and incontinence of urine in pregnant women[]. The seed is used to treat skin infections such as eczema ad scabies, and diseases of the urinary tract[, , ].
The seed contains harmine, which can have adverse effects upon the gastro-intestinal tract and the central nervous system[].

The shoots and leaves are prescribed chiefly in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea, and in digestive disorders generally[].

The stems are used in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhoea and dyspepsia[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant colonizes disturbed sites such as streambanks, oil well pits, and surface-mined lands. Although an exotic, it has been used in N. America for revegetation of disturbed lands. It is rated moderately good for erosion control and long-term revegetation potential and good for short-term revegetation potential. In Texas, at low seeding rates in mixtures with perennial species, it will establish on rangelands that have been exposed to on-site disposal of drilling fluids[].
Although it colonizes surface-mined lands very well, it persists for only a few years, often being virtually eliminated by the third year. Decaying shoots and roots of large first-year summer-cypress may inhibit the growth of second-year seedlings[].
It often becomes the dominant plant in abundance and percent cover among all pioneer species in sodic soils resulting from surface mining activity and on spoilbanks created by strip-mine coal operations. It offers the possibility for obtaining a rapidly established but short-lived protective vegetative cover on saline soils. This cover could be used as a forage species or as a soil stabilizer, allowing more desirable species to establish[].

Other Uses

The whole plant is used as a broom[, ]. The green form is used[]. Old plants are used[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and plant out in May. The seed can also be sown in situ in late mid spring or early May.
The seed has a dormancy period of 2 to 3 months and germinates early in the spring. It can germinate in temperatures ranging from 3.9 - 41°c, with optimum germination occurring at 16°c[].
Seeds have little or no seedbank viability; they either germinate or decay in 1 year[].