%20Bolsa%20Chica/flower%20spike%20with%20diagnostic%205-hooked%20fruits;10-02-11%20009.jpg) Flower spike with diagnostic 5-hooked fruits; Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
Five-hook Bassia Bassia hyssopifolia Chenopodiaceae Origin: Europe Grows all over California in alkaline soil in waste places with moisture. The tiny flowers have no petals, the calyx is 5-lobed, incurved with a hook on the back of each sepal. The leaves and flowers are green and hairy. It is closely related to Kochia, Russian Thistle, and Lamb's quarters, all exotics. The plant contains potassium oxalate and can make animals ill if eaten in quantity. The hooked fruits are dispersed by becoming lodged in the fur of animals. Back to Chenopodiaceae of Orange County, California |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/no%20petals;%20calyx%205-lobed,%20incurved%20with%20a%20hook%20on%20the%20back%20of%20each%20sepal;%2010-02-11%20051.jpg) Flowers have no petals; calyx 5-lobed, incurved with a hook on the back of each sepal; Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/leaves%20hairy;%2010-02-11%20049.jpg) Leaves hairy. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA. 10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/10-02-11%20012.jpg) Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/%201-2%27%20annual%20of%20moist%20alkaline%20soil,%20throughout%20CA.;%2010-02-11%20006.jpg) 1-2' annual of moist alkaline soil, throughout CA.; Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/plant%20branches%20from%20base;%2010-02-11%20005.jpg) Plant branches from base; Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/P-these%20critters%20were%20common%20%20ID_10-02-11%20086.jpg) Under attack by black aphids. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.10-02-11. © Joan Avise |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/Bassia%20hyssopifolia1.jpg) Talbert Reg Park, Costa Mesa, 7-15-12. © Ron Vanderhoff. |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/Bassia%20hyssopifolia2.jpg) Talbert Reg Park, Costa Mesa, 7-15-12. © Ron Vanderhoff. |
%20Bolsa%20Chica/Bassia%20hyssopifolia3.jpg) Talbert Reg Park, Costa Mesa, 7-15-12. © Ron Vanderhoff. |