Jesuit's tea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• worm-seed
• wormseed
• wormseed goosefoot
• Wormbush
• American wormseed
• Jerusalem-tea
• Spanish-tea
• American Goosefoot
• Amerrican Goosefoot
• Jerusalem Tea
• Jesuit's Tea
• Mexican Grape Herb
• Mexican tea
• Sandworm Plant
• Sinkingbossie
• Spanish Tea
• Wormsalt
• Wormseed Goosefeet
• goosefoot
• lamb's quarters
• pigweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. suffruticosum
• Chenopodium amboanum
• Chenopodium chilense var. incisa
• Chenopodium spathulatum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. suffruticosum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. querciforme
• Dysphania ambrosioides var. integrifolia
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. angustifolium
• Ambrina ambrosioides
• Botrys ambrosioides
• Agathophytum ambrosioides
• Atriplex ambrosioides
• Blitum ambrosioides
• Vulvaria ambrosioides
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. minus
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. cinerascens
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. polystachium
• Chenopodium rugosum
• Atriplex ambrosioides f. minus
• Chenopodium spathulatum var. angustifolium
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. pinnatifidum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. comosum
• Chenopodium suffruticosum
• Chenopodium suffruticosum subsp. remotum
• Chenopodium variegatum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. rotundatum
• Chenopodium anthelminticum var. glabratum
• Chenopodium cuneifolium
• Chenopodium querciforme
• Chenopodium querciforme var. minus
• Chenopodium sancta-maria
• Chenopodium spathulatum var. platyphyllum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. angustifolium
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. costei
• Chenopodium integrifolium
• Chenopodium integrifolium subsp. ramosissimum
• Chenopodium opulifolium subsp. amboanum
• Ambrina parvula
• Ambrina spathulata
• Orthosporum suffruticosum
• Roubieva querciformis
• Neobotrydium ambrosioides
• Orthosporum ambrosioides
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. microphyllum
• Teloxys ambrosioides
• Chenopodium album subsp. ambrosioides
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. viridis
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. spathulatum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides proles suffruticosum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides subsp. suffruticosum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. suffruticosum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. suffruticosum
• Chenopodium anthelminticum var. subhirsutum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. dentatum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. dentatum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. incisum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. integrifolium
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. integrifolium
• Chenopodium ambrosioides f. pinnatifidum
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. pubescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Dysphania ambrosioides, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Amaranthaceae and is situated within the genus Dysphania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark and Finland. It can also be found throughout the landscapes of Sweden and Great Britain. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is located in Middle Europe. Specifically, its geographical range extends into the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dysphania ambrosioides is characterized by its ability to thrive across a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to elevations as high as 3600 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting diverse environments including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) as well as specific natural biomes such as the Caatinga (strictu sensu) and the Cerrado (lato sensu). Its presence in both disturbed human-impacted landscapes and native semi-arid to savanna ecosystems highlights its adaptability to varying levels of environmental disturbance and soil conditions within these Brazilian biomes.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu)

Genetics

The genetics of Dysphania ambrosioides are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that suggests a history of polyploidy and genome evolution. Cytogenetic studies of this species reveal significant variation in its ploidy levels, with documented chromosome numbers including 16, 32, 36, 48, and 64. This wide range of chromosome numbers indicates that the plant exists in various cytotypes, ranging from diploid to higher-order polyploid states. Such chromosomal plasticity is often associated with the species' ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches and may play a crucial role in its evolutionary success and medicinal potency.

Chromosome number :

16, 32, 36, 48, 64

Life history

The life history of Dysphania ambrosioides is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant maintains its biological continuity by producing seeds that persist through unfavorable conditions, while the vegetative body dies off at the end of the cycle. Its growth habit is further defined as being deciduous, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal survival strategy. This combination of life history traits allows the species to efficiently exploit ephemeral resources and rapidly colonize disturbed habitats.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Dysphania ambrosioides is characterized by a herbaceous growth form, functioning as a non-woody plant that maintains an independent existence without parasitic tendencies. It is a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or epiphytic habits, and is classified as a self-supporting plant rather than a vine or liana. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.8 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.774 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.774 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dysphania ambrosioides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative morphology exhibits significant variability in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, while leaf widths vary from as little as 0.2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 3 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 12.0125 cm². Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 277.9 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its resource allocation strategy regarding light interception and water use efficiency. Regarding nutrient cycling, Dysphania ambrosioides does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

12.0125 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

277.9 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dysphania ambrosioides is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in September, though the timing can be variable. Pollination is facilitated via an abiotic syndrome, specifically through wind. Once fertilized, the plant produces fruits categorized as achenes, which are indehiscent in nature. These fruits are highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds are minute, with a mean length of 0.6 mm (ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 mm) and a mean width of 0.75 mm (ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 mm). The seed mass is quite low, with a mean of approximately 0.000530375 g, though individual seeds can range from a minimum of 0.00009 g to a maximum of 0.00283 g. Dispersal of the seeds is categorized as unspecialized, with evidence of anthropochorous dispersal (movement by humans). Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

0.8 mm

Seed length mean:

0.6 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00283 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000530375 g

Seed mass min:

9e-05 g

Seed width max:

0.8 mm

Seed width mean:

0.75 mm

Seed width min:

0.6 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dysphania ambrosioides has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. TheScientificWorldJournal
5. Natural product research

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product research

Root

1. Social science & medicine (1982)

Chemicals

Dysphania ambrosioides has 89 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ASCARIDOLE, Flavonoids, P-CYMENE, LIMONENE, (Z)-ASCARIDOLE.

ASCARIDOLE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. PloS one
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Scientific reports
3. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
4. Open life sciences
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Environmental science and pollution research international

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Journal of natural products

(Z)-ASCARIDOLE

1. Pest management science
2. Natural product research

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science

ISOASCARIDOLE

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Pest management science

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Activities

Dysphania ambrosioides has 354 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Analgesic, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food science
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Natural product research
5. Scientific reports

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Social science & medicine (1982)
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research
4. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cell biochemistry and function
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cell biochemistry and function
3. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientific reports

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antirheumatic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Dysphania ambrosioides has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, COVID-19, antimalarial, bronchitis, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations