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Epazote
Dysphania ambrosioides
33.0853, -97.0684
Field Notes
Description:
Epazote has strongly scented, coarsely toothed leaves on a plant 2-31/2 feet tall, that has a many branched, downy stem. It is a short lived perennial or annual, native to Mexico and South America that has naturalized in many parts of North America and central and southern Europe. Numerous, small yellow green flowers grow in small clusters in the axils of the leafy branches, followed by the small green fruit which encase small, black seeds. It self sows readily.
Habitat:
Any kind of soil. Sun to part shade. They are growing in my yard, mostly in part shade, and always have seedlings surrounding them.
Notes:
The leaves are a standard, strong Mexican seasoning, also known as American wormseed, Spanish tea, and Mexican tea. Added to dried beans shortly after cooking begins, it helps blend flavors. It is also good with corn and fish. Oil from the seeds has long been used to expel intestinal worms, hence the name wormseed. Caution: dosages of the oil can easily be toxic. A strong, nonedible tea made from the whole plant is used in tropical America to swab floors and porches as an insect and worm larvae deterrent.
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