Bassia scoparia
Bassia scoparia
Safety & Hazards
Plants contain some saponins and should not be eaten in large quantities. Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans. Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. Although generally considered to be good forage, the plant may cause photosensitization and polioencephalomalacia if eaten by grazing animals as a large part of their diet[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Toxic nephrosis and toxic hepatitis may also occur[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Toxic substances identified in the plant include saponins, alkaloids, nitrates, and oxalates[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]
Botanical Description
Bassia scoparia is a very variable, erect, annual plant. Some forms are unbranched, whilst others are freely branched and often form pyramidal or rounded tops. Leaf form also varies considerably. Plants can grow from 50 - 150cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant has a wide range of uses as a food, medicine and as a broom. It is cultivated as a food crop in China[ 178 Title Chinese Materia Medica. Publication Author Stuart. Rev. G. A. Publisher Taipei. Southern Materials Centre Year 1911 ISBN - Description A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating. ], and is grown in several countries for use as a broom[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. , 151 Title Corean Flora. Publication Author Wilson. E. H. and Trollope. M. N. Publisher Royal Asiatic Society Year 1918 ISBN - Description A very small handbook, it does give a little bit of information on Korean plants. , 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. It can be used in restoration projects on mine spill sites and other degraded areas. The plant, especially the form known as Bassia scoparia trichophylla is often grown as an ornamental, where it makes an excellent short-term screen. Bassia scoparia has spread to many countries as a result of human activity and is considered a noxious weed in some, such as Australia and parts of N. America[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ]. One plant can produce over 50,000 seeds per year under favorable conditions, but only 5 seeds per year under stressful conditions[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ].