lambsquarters
Family
ChenopodiaceaeScientific Name
Chenopodium album
Other Common Names:
missouri goosefoot
cmmon lamb quarters
white goosefoot
Habit
An erect annual reaching heights of 2 m. Foliage and flower calyx (leaves around the flower bud) especially younger leaves are covered with a grey powder or mealy substance.
Leaves
Leaves are very irregular ranging in shape from triangle to lance shaped with jagged edges they have been described as being shaped like a goose's foot and are alternate in arrangement. They are 2 to 14 cm long, and 1 to 6 cm wide and simple.
Identifying Characteristics
Stems often have redish/purplish and light green streaks. Dense flower clusters can be found at the terminal ends of the branches. Leaves often have a gray mealy look. Can be toxic to animals and humans in large quantities. Seedlings can be confused with redroot pigweed but the cotelydons of redroot pigweed have a prominant midrib while lambsquarter does not.
Flower Seed Head
Found in dense clusters at the ends of branches and leaf axils they have no petals and are grainy in texture. Flowers are green in color and look more like little balls.
Seed Fruit
Seed are surrounded by a papery sack with a single tiny black disk shaped seed inside. Seed resembles amaranthus seed but is not as shiny and has a coating around it often.
Where Found
Throughout the United States in several habitats including cultivated crops, landscapes, wastelands, and gardens.
Growth Habit
upright and nonwoody
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
pencil
Dominant Flower Color
green
Flower Symmetry
not symmetrical
Leaf Hairs
no hairs
Leaf Shape
Varies:
lance,
triangle
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Margin
Varies:
entire,
lobed
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
shorter than leaf
Stem Hairs
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
square or multi-edged
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
taproot
Life Cycle
summer annual
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Herb