CHENOPODIACE^ GOOSEFOOT FAMILY 



Chenopodium album, L. 



White Lamb's Quarters, Meldweed, 



Pigweed, Beaconweed, 



June-September Smooth Pigweed, Fat-hen, 



White Goosefoot, Muckweed, 



Frost Bite, Wild Spinach, 



Mealweed, Jerusalem Oak. 



Chenopodium: from Greek meaning a goosefoot, in allusion 



to the shape of the leaves. 

 Album: Latin for white. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: roadsides and neglected fields. 



THE PLANT: erect, one foot to five feet high, with many 

 branches of equal length; the branches ascending; the 

 stem often dark-streaked, grooved at least when dry. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; ovate or the upper lanceolate or 

 linear-lanceolate; one to four inches long; above light 

 green; beneath white; nearly acute or somewhat obtuse 

 at the apex; narrowed at the base; on petioles often as 

 long as the blade; dentate; irregularly lobed, or the upper 

 entire. 



THE FLOWERS: very small, crowded in terminal and axil- 

 lary spikes. 



THE FRUIT: small and bladder-shaped. 



An almost repulsive weed. Its colour-tone is an ashy- 

 green, its "goose-foot" leaves are thick, the spikes of 

 inconspicuous flowers characterless. A swift grower, it 

 rapidly absorbs food and moisture needed by the crops, 

 and, further, it is a frequent host for mildews and rust. 



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