Edge/ Mexican Tea

COMMON NAME: Mexican Tea

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Wormseed

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chenopodium ambrosioides

FAMILY: Chenopodiaceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Naturalized native of tropical America

LIFESPAN: Annual or short-lived perennial

HEIGHT: 2 to 5 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Mid-July to late October

FRUITING TIME: Mid-July to late October

DISTRIBUTION: Maine to Florida ~ West to Wisconsin ~ Statewide in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Leaves alternate, arrow-shaped, irregularly toothed ~ Flowers small , clustered, greenish and found on leafy spikes ~ aromatic

GENERAL INFORMATION: Cultivated plants in this family (Chenopodiaceae) include beets and spinach. Native Americans used a seed decoction (medicine prepared by boiling thick parts of plant; ingested hot or cold) for intestinal worms.  A poultice (a soft, moist mass of plant parts wrapped and applied warm or hot to skin) of crushed leaves was applied for headache and the root was used to treat delayed menses. In Chinese medicine, the whole plant is crushed and mixed with boiling water for tea.  The tea is bitter, fragrant and is used to treat intestinal worms, relieve flatulence, ant to relieve pain.  A decoction, applied externally, is used as a soak to treat insect bites. Today, dried leaves are occationaly used to make tea.  The fresh leaves are covered with oil glands that make them inedible. 

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.