# stinknet (*Oncosiphon pilulifer*) Stinknet is a plant that can grow in many places. It has small yellow flowers and can smell quite strong, especially when touched! Some people find its smell a bit stinky, but it’s a part of nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![stinknet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oncosiphon_pilulifer_1DS-II_5277.jpg&width=800) Photo: SAplants, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oncosiphon_pilulifer_1DS-II_5277.jpg) ## Appearance The stinknet has many slender, branching stems and finely dissected, fern-like leaves. Its bright yellow, ball-shaped flower heads are small, appearing individually at stem tips, making it look like tiny golden pom-poms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Oncosiphon ## Interesting facts - Its strong, unpleasant scent helped give it the funny name 'stinknet'! - One tiny stinknet plant can produce thousands of seeds to grow a huge family! - This plant is an invasive species, meaning it quickly takes over new lands! - Touching this plant can sometimes make your skin feel itchy or give you a small rash! ## Special abilities - **Stinky Shield:** Stinknet can produce strong-smelling chemicals that warn away grazing animals, helping it defend itself. - **Seed Sprinter:** Stinknet has tiny, lightweight seeds that travel easily by wind and water, allowing it to spread quickly. - **Tough Survivor:** Stinknet can grow in poor soils and dry conditions, making it super adaptable and tough to remove. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 10-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Eats:** Domestic goat (*Capra hircus*) — Goats can graze this plant, but it's toxic in large amounts. - **Eats:** Stinknet weevil (*Smicronyx oncolabii*) — Larvae feed on seeds and flowers as a biocontrol. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see stinknet, it's best not to touch it too much because of its strong smell. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify stinknet? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is stinknet? 10-60 cm ### How wide does stinknet spread? 10-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on stinknet? 0.5-1 cm ### When does stinknet bloom? Late winter to summer ### Is stinknet edible? No ### Is stinknet toxic? Moderate ### What is stinknet's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Cartwright Elementary School District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cartwright-elementary-school-district) — Arizona, US · Campus - [Phoenix Indian School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/phoenix-indian-school) — Arizona, US · Campus - [Phoenix Union High School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/phoenix-union-high-school) — Arizona, US · Campus - [Wildlife World Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildlife-world-zoo) — Arizona, US · Zoo [View all places to see stinknet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/stinknet) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Stinknet: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stinknet)