Family: Amaranthaceae
Author: (Pall.) Kuntze
Bibliography: Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 547 (1891)
Year: 1891
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Bassia
Vegetable: False
Observations: W. Medit., Moldova to N. China
Description
Five-horn smotherweed, scientifically known as Bassia hyssopifolia, is a fascinating plant species that belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. This hardy and resilient species is native to a wide geographical range extending from the Western Mediterranean region through Moldova and reaching as far as Northern China. Its botanical description was meticulously revised in 1891 by Kuntze, who referenced it in the seminal work “Revis. Gen. Pl.”.
The name “Five-horn smotherweed” is derived from the plant’s distinctive morphology. It is characterized by its five prominent appendages, which make it easily recognizable among other flora. This adaptive plant is particularly well-suited to arid and semi-arid environments, thriving in conditions where many other species might struggle to survive.
Ecologically, Five-horn smotherweed plays a significant role in its native habitats. It often acts as a pioneer species, colonizing disturbed or degraded soils and providing a foundation for subsequent plant succession. Its resilient nature ensures that it can establish quickly and provide erosion control, making it an important species for maintaining soil health and stability in its native range.
Botanically, Bassia hyssopifolia exhibits a unique structure. The plant is typically herbaceous, forming dense mats that can outcompete other vegetation for resources, thus earning the name “smotherweed.” This characteristic allows it to effectively dominate landscapes, often forming extensive monocultures.
In terms of its adaptability, the Five-horn smotherweed displays a high tolerance to saline conditions, which is a crucial adaptive trait for survival in its often harsh and unpredictable native environments. This salt tolerance makes it a versatile species, able to thrive in a variety of soil types, including those with high salinity that would be inhospitable to many other plants.
Despite its common name and some of its more aggressive ecological tendencies, Bassia hyssopifolia is not without its benefits. It can be used in land reclamation projects to restore degraded lands, and its ability to thrive in salty soils can make it invaluable in efforts to reclaim such environments.
Overall, Five-horn smotherweed is a remarkable example of plant resilience and adaptability, proving its ecological importance through its widespread presence from the Western Mediterranean to Northern China. Its unique characteristics and robust nature make it a subject of continued interest for botanists and ecologists alike.
Common Names
Eng: fivehorn smotherweed, five-horn smotherweed, fivehook bassia, smotherweed, five-hooked bassia, five-horned bassia, five-horned smotherweed
Lit: siauralapė basija
Deu: ysop-radmelde, ysopblättrige radmelde, ysopblättrige dornmelde
Est: iisop-puhmikmalts
Swe: krokmålla
Fra: bassia à feuilles d’hysope
En: Five-horn smotherweed, Fivehorn smotherweed, FIVEHOOK BASSIA, Smotherweed, Five-hooked brassia, Five-hooked bassia, Five-horned bassia, Five-horned smotherweed
Ar: قضقاض زوفي الأوراق
Zh: Gou ci wu bing li, 勾刺雾冰藜
Et: Iisop-puhmikmalts
Fi: Kielisuolukka
Fr: Bassia à feuilles d’hysope, Bassia
De: Ysopblättrige Dornmelde, Ysop-Radmelde, Ysopblättrige Radmelde
It: Granata issopifolia, Granata irsuta
Lt: Siauralapė basija
Pt-br: Falsa-moreninha
Sv: Krokmålla
Synonyms
- Bassia hyssopifolia var. almeriensis (Losa & Rivas Goday)
- Echinopsilon reuterianus (Boiss.)
- Salsola hissopifolia (Nocca ex Usteri)
- Willemetia lanata (Maerkl.)
- Bassia reuteriana ((Boiss.) Gürke)
- Suaeda triandra (Henckel)
- Echinopsilon hyssopifolius var. caspicus ((Schrad.) B.Fedtsch. & al.)
- Salsola hyssopifolia (Pall.)
- Kochia hyssopifolia var. caspica (Schrad.)
- Echinopsilon lanatus (Moq.)
- Suaeda hyssopifolia ((Pall.) Pall.)
- Salsola triandra (Poir.)
- Chenopodium lanuginosum (Moench)
- Kochia hyssopifolia ((Pall.) Roth)
- Echinopsilon hyssopifolius ((Pall.) Moq.)
- Bassia hyssopifolia subsp. reuteriana ((Boiss.) O.Bolòs & Font Quer)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Altay (native)
- Baleares (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Inner Mongolia (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Kriti (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- South Dakota (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habit
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Mar 4, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Ans GORTER (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Other
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)
Fruit
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Leaf
Taken Apr 15, 2016 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Mar 4, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Ans GORTER (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:29802-2)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5383909)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) Kuntze)
Specifications
Growth form>: Single Stem
Growth habit>: Forb/herb
Growth rate>: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 9.1
Ph minimum: 6.5
Light: 9
Atmospheric humidity: 7
Bloom months: [‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’]
Soil nutriments: 8
Soil salinity: 8
