Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)
- Family: Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae)
- Flowering: May-October.
- Field Marks: The distinguishing features of this
species are the white lower leaf surfaces and the seeds lacking a
honeycomb appearance.
- Habitat: Disturbed soil, frequently in moist areas.
- Habit: Annual herb with fibrous roots.
- Stems: Erect, often branched, smooth or with short
hairs, up to 4 feet tall.
- Leaves: Alternate, simple, broadly lanceolate to
ovate, coarsely and irregularly toothed, whitish on the lower
surface, up to 5 inches long.
- Flowers: Minute, crowded in several spikes that form
a panicle.
- Sepals: 5, whitish, very tiny.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 5.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Seeds smooth, black, shiny, about 1/20 inch
long.
- Notes: The young parts of this plant can be cooked
and eaten as a vegetable.
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