Chenopodium album
Family: Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae)
Plant Description: Annual to 1 m or higher with red-striped stems. Leaves broadly rhombic, 6-10 cm long, violet or reddish when young, alternate, simple and irregularly dentate or toothed. Flowers in spicate panicles. Minute, unstalked flowers green to brown flowers.
Field Identification: Grayish-green, diamond-shaped leaves with a meal white coating; grows 1-6 ft tall. FACU.
Plant Trivia: Larva host to western Pigmy-blue butterfly and common Sootywing. Wind pollenated.
Occurrence: Occasional in waste places. Native of Europe.
Bloom period: Summer-Fall
Plant Use: Fast growing edible “weed” related to quinoa, and spinach. Often eaten as a cooked green. Has high protein, vitamin (high levels of Vitamins A, C, and aand minerals (potassium, calcium, phosphorus (CAUTION: consume in moderation due to oxalic acid). Leaves and roots taste like mild spinach; seeds can be ground to flour and used like quinoa. Historically it has been used a a blood purifier, diuretic, sedative, hepatoprotective, antiscorbutic laxative and as an anthelmintic against round and hookworms. . Pharmacological studies have revealed that the plant possesses an anthelmintic, sperm immobilizing and contraceptive properties.
Dichotomous Key (if needed)
stxflora 