Chenopodium ambrosioides

<<<Inflorescences>Glomerules>Bracts>Length

to ca. 2.5 cm long1

1. 004-002-002-002

<<<Inflorescences>Glomerules>Bracts>Shape

linear to (sub)foliaceous2

2. 004-002-002-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Apex>Shape

acute to obtuse, sometimes apiculate3

3. 003-002-004-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Base>Colour

yellowish-green4

4. 003-002-005-003

<<<Petiole>Blade>Base>Hairs

sessile glandular resin dots, especially on lower surface, glabrous or sparsely puberulent above, or puberulent beneath especially on veins5

5. 003-002-005-002

<<<Petiole>Blade>Base>Shape

cuneate6

6. 003-002-005-001

<<<Tepals>Filaments>Anthers>Length

0.5 mm long7

7. 005-008-001-002

<<<Tepals>Filaments>Anthers>Shape

orbicular8

8. 005-008-001-001

<<Inflorescences>Flowers>Flower number per glomerule

4-69

9. 004-001-001

<<Inflorescences>Flowers>Flower number per group

1-310

10. 004-001-002

<<Inflorescences>Glomerules>Bract number

1-bracteate11

11. 004-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Glomerules>Bracts

bract ,12

12. 004-002-002

<<Pericarp>Seeds>Colour

lustrous, reddish-brown13

13. 006-001-005

<<Pericarp>Seeds>Diameter

0.6-0.8 mm in diam.14

14. 006-001-002

<<Pericarp>Seeds>Position

horizontally or vertically oriented15

15. 006-001-003

<<Pericarp>Seeds>Shape

lenticular-cochleate to ovoid16

16. 006-001-001

<<Pericarp>Seeds>Texture

smooth,17

17. 006-001-004

<<Petiole>Blade>Apex

apex ,18

18. 003-002-004

<<Petiole>Blade>Base

base , , .19

19. 003-002-005

<<Petiole>Blade>Dimensions

0.6-12.5 x 1-5.5 cm20

20. 003-002-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Margin type

entire to shallowly dentate or sinuately pinnatifid21

21. 003-002-003

<<Petiole>Blade>Shape

lanceolate, oblanceolate, oblong-elliptic, rhombic-elliptic or ovate22

22. 003-002-001

<<Tepals>Filaments>Anthers

anthers , ;23

23. 005-008-001

<<Tepals>Stamens>Stamen number

(3-)524

24. 005-007-001

<<Tepals>Stigma>Growth form

spreading25

25. 005-009-001

<Inflorescences>Flowers

flowers sessile or subsessile.26 flowers in glomerules of , along major axes, in groups of on apical, minor axes;27

26. 004-003, 27. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Glomerules

glomerules , ;28

28. 004-002

<Pericarp>Seeds

seeds , , , .29

29. 006-001

<Petiole>Blade

blade , , ,30

30. 003-002

<Petiole>Length

1-2 cm long31

31. 003-001

<Stems>Height

0.3-1.0(-1.5) m tall32

32. 002-001

<Tepals>Colour

greenish33

33. 005-002

<Tepals>Filaments

filaments about as long as tepals,34

34. 005-008

<Tepals>Hairs

glabrous or puberulent and usually gland-dotted35

35. 005-005

<Tepals>Length

0.7-1.3 mm long36

36. 005-004

<Tepals>Relative distance

fused ca. half-way37

37. 005-006

<Tepals>Shape

narrowly ovate38

38. 005-003

<Tepals>Stamens

stamens ;39

39. 005-007

<Tepals>Stigma

stigmas sessile or subsessile, .40

40. 005-009

<Tepals>Tepal number

(3-)541

41. 005-001

Common Name

Boni (French Guiana): woron-wiwiri Creole (French Guiana): poudre aux vers, zerb' a vers Creole (Suriname): woron-menti English (French Guiana): aapoa, semen contra English (Guyana): mastruz, matouosh, metroshi English (Suriname): tingi-menti

Description

Annual or perennial, taprooted herb. Stem 0.3-1.0(-1.5) m tall, strongly scented of mustard, ribbed, often somewhat woody, much-branched. Petiole 1-2 cm long; blade lanceolate, oblanceolate, oblong-elliptic, rhombic-elliptic or ovate, 0.6-12.5 x 1-5.5 cm, entire to shallowly dentate or sinuately pinnatifid, apex acute to obtuse, sometimes apiculate, base cuneate, sessile glandular resin dots, especially on lower surface, glabrous or sparsely puberulent above, or puberulent beneath especially on veins, yellowish-green. Inflorescence a single cyme or spikes of cymes; flowers in glomerules of 4-6, along major axes, in groups of 1-3 on apical, minor axes; glomerules 1-bracteate, bract linear to (sub)foliaceous, to ca. 2.5 cm long; flowers sessile or subsessile. Tepals (3-)5, greenish, narrowly ovate, 0.7-1.3 mm long, glabrous or puberulent and usually gland-dotted, fused ca. half-way, cucullate and folded over fruit; stamens (3-)5; filaments about as long as tepals, anthers orbicular, 0.5 mm long; stigmas sessile or subsessile, spreading. Pericarp not adherent to seed, thin and decaying; seeds lenticular-cochleate to ovoid, 0.6-0.8 mm in diam., horizontally or vertically oriented, smooth, lustrous, reddish-brown.

Distribution

Guianas present, Northern America, Southern America

Possibly native to Mexico and Central America, now a cosmopolitan weed in warm regions; 21 collections examined, all from the Guianas (GU: 6; SU: 1; FG: 14).

Habit

Annual or perennial, taprooted herb.42

42. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, Cultis, Focke 1395 Guyana, Rupununi Savanna, Cook 250 Commune de Remire, Ile de Cayenne, Wittingthon 59 Cayenne, Jardin prima, Kodjoed 91 Guyana, South Rupununi Savanna, Aishalton airstrip, Henkel 3467 Guyana, Ireng R. near Orinduik Falls, Essequibo County, Irwin et al. 474

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a single cyme or spikes of cymes;43

43. 004

Pericarp

Pericarp not adherent to seed, thin and decaying;44

44. 006

Petiole

Petiole ;45

45. 003

Stems

Stem , strongly scented of mustard, ribbed, often somewhat woody, much-branched.46

46. 002

Tepals

Tepals , , , , , , cucullate and folded over fruit;47

47. 005

Uses

Generally found as a weed, sometimes cultivated as a medicinal plant for the leaves, which are used as an anthelmintic (vermifuge) in the Guianas (Cook 250; Ostendorf (1962); and Moretti 913). The French Guianans use an infusion of six leaves mixed with salt in a cup, which is reportedly very beneficial for the liver, and as a children's vermifuge (Oldeman B.3909). According to Henkel 3467, the plant is used as a malaria treatment by Wapishiana Amerindians of Guyana.

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