''Dysphania ambrosioides'', formerly ''Chenopodium ambrosioides'', known as Jesuit's tea, Mexican-tea, ''payqu'' ''(paico)'', ''epazote'', ''mastruz'', or ''herba sanctæ Mariæ'', is an annual or short-lived perennial

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

native to Central America, South America, and southern Mexico.

Growth

''Dysphania ambrosioides'' is an annual or short-lived perennial plant (

), growing to tall, irregularly branched, with oblong- lanceolate

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

up to long. The flowers are small and green, produced in a branched

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

at the apex of the stem. As well as in its native areas, it is grown in warm temperate to

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

areas of Europe and the United States ( Missouri, New England, Eastern United States), sometimes becoming an

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

weed.

Taxonomy

The species was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus as ''Chenopodium ambrosioides''. Some researchers treated it as a highly polymorphic species with several subspecies. Today these are considered as their own species of genus ''Dysphania'' (e.g. American wormseed, ''Chenopodium ambrosioides'' var. ''anthelminticum'' is now accepted as '' Dysphania anthelmintica''). The generic name ''Dysphania'' traditionally was applied in the 1930s to some species endemic to Australia. Placement and rank of this taxon have ranged from a mere section in ''Chenopodium'' to the sole genus of a separate family Dysphaniaceae, or a representative of Illicebraceae. The close affinity of ''Dysphania'' to "glandular" species of ''Chenopodium'' ''sensu lato'' is now evident. The species name refers to the resemblance to plants of the

Ambrosia In the ancient Greek myths, ''ambrosia'' (, grc, ἀμβροσία 'immortality'), the food or drink of the Greek gods, is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus ...

genus, in a different family.

Etymology

The common Spanish name, ''epazote'' (sometimes spelled and pronounced ''ipasote'' or ''ypasote''), is derived from nah, epazōtl ().

Usage

Culinary uses

Ideally collected before going to seed, ''D. ambrosioides'' is used as a leaf vegetable,

, and herbal tea for its pungent flavor. Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, similar to

oregano Oregano (, ; ''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Oregano is a woody perennial pla ...

anise Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia. The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...

, fennel, or even tarragon, but stronger. The fragrance of ''D. ambrosioides'' is strong and unique. A common analogy is to turpentine or creosote. It has also been compared to citrus,

savory Savory or Savoury may refer to: Common usage * Herbs of the genus ''Satureja'', particularly: ** Summer savory (''Satureja hortensis''), an annual herb, used to flavor food ** Winter savory (''Satureja montana''), a perennial herb, also used to ...

, and mint. Although it is traditionally used with black beans for flavor and its antiflatulent properties, it is also sometimes used to flavor other traditional Mexican dishes: it can be used to season

quesadilla A quesadilla (; ; Mexican diminutive of ''quesada'') is a Mexican cuisine, Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla that is filled primarily with cheese, and sometimes meats, spices, and other fillings, and then cooked on a griddle or stove. Trad ...

s and

sope Sope may refer to: People * Barak Sopé (born 1951), Vanuatu politician * Sope Aluko (born 1975), Nigerian-born British American actress * Sope Dirisu (born 1991), British Nigerian actor * Sope Johnson * Sope Willams Elegbe (born 1975), Nigerian ...

s (especially those containing huitlacoche), soups,

mole de olla Mole de olla is a Mexican traditional soup. It is made of xoconostle (a kind of edible cactus), squash, zucchini, green beans, corn, potato, ''chambarete'' and ''aguja'' meat, submerged into a broth of chile guajillo and chile pasilla, seaso ...

, tamales with

cheese Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, ...

and chili peppers,

chilaquiles Chilaquiles () are a traditional Mexican breakfast dish consisting of corn tortillas cut into quarters and lightly fried. Ingredients and variations Typically, corn tortillas cut into quarters and lightly fried or baked for a lighter version ...

, eggs and potatoes, and enchiladas. It is often used as an herb in fried white rice, and it is an important ingredient for making the green salsa for chilaquiles.

Toxicity

Humans have died from overdoses of ''D. ambrosioides'' essential oils (attributed to the ascaridole content). Symptoms include severe

gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydra ...

with pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Agricultural use

The essential oils of ''D. ambrosioides'' contain terpene compounds, some of which have natural pesticide capabilities. The compound ascaridole in epazote inhibits the growth of nearby species, so it is best to grow it at a distance from other plants.

Companion plant

''Dysphania ambrosioides'' not only contains terpene compounds, but it also delivers partial protection to nearby plants simply by masking their scent to some insects, making it a useful companion plant. Its small flowers may also attract some predatory wasps and flies.

Chemical constituents

Epazote contains oil of chenopodium, which

Merriam-Webster Merriam-Webster, Inc. is an American company that publishes reference books and is especially known for its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States. In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as ...

defines as “a colorless or pale yellow toxic essential oil of unpleasant odor and taste, … formerly used as an anthelmintic”. Epazote

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...

contains ascaridole (up to 70%), limonene, p-cymene, and smaller amounts of numerous other

monoterpenes Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen funct ...

and monoterpene derivatives ( α-pinene, myrcene, terpinene, thymol,

camphor Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...

and trans-isocarveol). Ascaridole (1,4-peroxido-p-menth-2-ene) is rather an uncommon constituent of spices; another plant owing much of its character to this monoterpene peroxide is boldo. Ascaridole is slightly toxic and has a pungent, not very pleasant flavor. In pure form, ascaridole decomposes violently upon heating, but this is relatively weak in regards to energy release, since it does not destroy the entire molecule. Ascaridole content is lower in epazote from Mexico than in epazote grown in Europe or Asia.

References

External links

Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages

* ttp://www.rain-tree.com/epazote.htm Tropical Plant database: Chenopodium ambrosioides
''Dysphania ambrosioides'' in Flora of North America
{{Taxonbar, from=Q640032 ambrosioides Antiflatulents Flora of Michigan Flora of New Jersey Herbs Leaf vegetables Medicinal plants of Central America Medicinal plants of North America Medicinal plants of South America Mesoamerican cuisine Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora without expected TNC conservation status