fetid goosefoot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• fetid goosefoot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Teloxys graveolens
• Chenopodium ambrosioides var. graveolens
• Chenopodium graveolens var. bangii
• Chenopodium graveolens var. mexicanum
• Chenopodium graveolens var. neomexicanum
• Chenopodium incisum f. pumilum
• Dysphania graveolens
• Ambrina graveolens
• Neobotrydium graveolens
• Neobotrydium incisum
• Ambrina incisa
• Chenopodium foetidum f. pumilum
• Chenopodium rigidum
• Chenopodium graveolens
• Chenopodium graveolens f. rotundifolium
• Chenopodium incisum
• Chenopodium incisum var. bangii
• Chenopodium mandonii
• Teloxys mandonii
• Chenopodium graveolens f. pumilum
• Dysphania mandonii
• Chenopodium incisum var. mexicanum
• Chenopodium incisum var. neomexicanum
• Chenopodium incisum f. rotundifolium
• Chenopodium incisum f. rubellum
• Chenopodium graveolens f. rubellum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Caryophyllales and is a member of the family Amaranthaceae. It is specifically identified under the genus Dysphania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a scattered geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the world. In Middle Europe, its presence has been documented specifically within Germany. Moving to the North American continent, it can be found in the Northwestern United States in Colorado. Its range also extends significantly into the Northeastern United States. Specifically, this species inhabits the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and New York.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dysphania incisa is characterized by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude environments, primarily thriving within distinct montane or subalpine zones. This species occupies a specific vertical niche, maintaining a presence across an elevational range that begins at 2000 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 4000 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal gradient, the plant is subject to the unique climatic pressures of high-mountain ecosystems, including lower temperatures, increased ultraviolet radiation, and potentially thinner atmospheric conditions. Its ability to inhabit such a broad vertical span suggests a high degree of physiological plasticity, allowing it to colonize various microhabitats within the high-elevation landscape.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dysphania incisa is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from seed germination to flowering and eventual senescence—within a single growing season. This rapid progression is typical of many species within the genus that thrive in disturbed habitats or open areas where seasonal resources are readily available. Following germination, the plant undergoes a period of vegetative growth, developing its distinctively serrated leaves and stem structure before transitioning into its reproductive phase. During this stage, it produces inflorescences that facilitate pollination, eventually leading to the production of seeds that ensure the continuity of the species. Once the seeds have matured and been dispersed, the individual plant completes its life cycle, leaving the next generation to emerge when environmental conditions become favorable again.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Dysphania incisa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.9 m. The plant exhibits a self-supporting habit, functioning as a self-supporting climber rather than a liana or vine, and it does not require external structures for support. It is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, and is strictly terrestrial in its ecological niche, meaning it does not function as an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or otherwise) nor does it possess aquatic or semiaquatic characteristics.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dysphania incisa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. Unlike plants that employ C4 or CAM mechanisms to optimize water-use efficiency in arid environments, this species relies on the direct carboxylation of RuBP by the enzyme Rubisco. Additionally, in terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it depends on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium present within the soil matrix to fulfill its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and metabolic processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dysphania incisa is governed by abiotic mechanisms, specifically characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome. The plant relies on non-living environmental factors to facilitate the transfer of pollen, with its pollination processes primarily driven by wind. This reliance on wind-mediated dispersal serves as the central mode for pollen movement, distinguishing its reproductive strategy from those dependent on biotic vectors such as insects or birds.

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dysphania incisa has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pinocembrin, Pinostrobin, chrysin, 5,7-Dihydroxyflavanone, Eucalyptol.

Pinocembrin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Pinostrobin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

chrysin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

5,7-Dihydroxyflavanone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Eucalyptol

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

P-CYMENE

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

pinocembrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Dysphania incisa has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antinociceptive.

Analgesic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antinociceptive

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Dysphania incisa has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CH₂Cl₂-MeOH extract, acetone extract, crude drug, essential oil, infusion.

Ch₂cl₂-meoh extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Acetone extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude drug

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Essential oil

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Infusion

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology