Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Wormsweed
Tsé’ázhiíh

Upper portion of the plant, which contains multiple inflorescences and ovate, toothed leaves
H. Zell [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Wormsweed is not native, but has become naturalized. It is commonly known as epazote, and it is used in Mexican, Central American, and South American cuisine. It grows in disturbed areas. The plant can grow to be four feet tall. The leaves vary in shape, from ovate to lancelike, and can have small to deep serrations on the leaf edges. The small green flowers occur in clusters, and later form red-brown seeds.

Abundant foliage along the stem
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Growth habit of a young plant with dark red central stem
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific Name
Dysphania ambrosioides
Plant Type
Forb
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitat
Wastelands
Flower Color
Green
✓
Edible
For definitions, see the glossary.

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