Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott
summer-cypress
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
(Previously in Chenopodiaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Bryan Kelly-McArthur     (Photo ID #89663)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Bassia scoparia
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, several, freely branching, strongly to finely woolly giving a silvery or rusty appearance, usually reddish-tinged, especially in the fall, 0.3-1.5 m tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves alternate, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2-6 cm long, 3-5 nerved, softly hairy to rusty-bristled beneath, upper surface usually glabrous but fringed on the margins; bracts 3-10 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 3-6 flowers in axillary spikes along the stem; calyces rusty and long soft-hairy to woolly long-hairy, prominently flanged in fruit.
Fruits:
Papery, thin, membranous envelopes; seeds horizontal.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Bassia scoparia

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
548 390 710
Slope Gradient (%)
4 0 15

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

202 168 238
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 1 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
8
Modal BEC Zone Class
BG

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BG(7), PP(1)

Habitat and Range

Dry waste places in the steppe zone; rare in SW and NE BC, frequent in SC BC; introduced from Eurasia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.