Kochia

Kochia

Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.

Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ young, maturing plants

▲ ▼ striped stems

▲ ▼ initiating of flowering

▲ ▼ initiation of flowering

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲ mature plants, post-flowering

Kochia:

summer annual with narrow to slightly rounded leaves that are green to gray-green in color
has upright oval to pyramidal to rounded growth habit--a much-branched plant
stems have red striping
palatable to livestock when young, but may accumulate toxic levels of nitrates as it matures
common in cultivated fields, along roadsides, disturbed sites in areas west of Missouri (and north)