Cheesebush; Hymenoclea salsola

Palm Springs, CA March 18, 2007 I had read in one of my wildflower books that this plant gets its' name from the odor of the crushed leaves. Sure enough, when I crushed a leaf between my fingers, I smelled an odor similar to a strong Cheddar cheese! These plants are monoecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers. Can you see the two different kinds of flowers?