A mild, weak-scented goosefoot offering edible leaves and nutritious seeds. Best used as a seed crop, with leaves as a secondary resource. Safe, modest, and useful where found in abundance [2-3]. Edible Uses & Rating: Both leaves and seeds are edible, though the seeds represent the stronger food resource. Leaves are mild and suitable for cooked greens, though typically too small and sparse to gather in bulk. Seeds were traditionally harvested by Indigenous peoples, indicating their usefulness as a reliable grain-like resource. They can be processed similarly to other goosefoot seeds—boiled, toasted, or ground into flour. Buttered goosefoot ranks as a moderate-quality edible, valued for seeds more than leaves, and most useful when encountered in dense stands where collection becomes efficient [2-3]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: While specific flavour descriptions are scarce due to limited ethnobotanical documentation, buttered goosefoot generally aligns with the mildest members of the genus. Leaves tend to be soft, slightly earthy, and spinach-like when cooked, lacking the sharp acridity or resinous notes found in strong-scented species. Seeds are small, dark, and enclosed in fragile calyx tissues that separate easily. Cooked seeds develop a nutty, quinoa-like flavour common to many Chenopodium species. Toasting enhances aroma and reduces any musty undertones, while boiling yields a soft porridge-like consistency. Because leaf yield is low, culinary use focuses primarily on seeds, which adapt well to simple preparations [2-3]. Seasonality (Phenology): Plants germinate in spring as temperatures warm and soils remain moist. Leaves are best collected early in the season before flowering. Blooming typically occurs in summer, followed by seed maturation in late summer to autumn. Seeds often persist into early winter in dry climates, allowing flexible harvest times. Seasonal abundance depends heavily on soil moisture, with the densest stands appearing in wet years or along receding lake margins. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): As with all Chenopodium species, leaves contain oxalates and saponins, making boiling the safest preparation method for frequent consumption. Seeds are generally safe, though heavy intake should be moderated in individuals sensitive to oxalates. There are no specific toxicity warnings outside the normal genus-wide cautions. Harvesting should avoid contaminated soils or agricultural runoff zones [2-3]. Harvest & Processing Workflow: Leaves should be harvested early in the season while still tender. Wash thoroughly to remove soil or surface dust. For seeds, wait until late summer or autumn when the inflorescences dry and calyx tissues loosen. Rub the seed heads gently to release seeds, then winnow or sieve to remove debris. Seeds may be toasted, boiled, or ground depending on culinary needs. The small plant size means harvesting is most practical where plants form dense patches. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Buttered goosefoot resembles other low-growing Chenopodium species, especially C. pratericola, C. rubrum, and C. fremontii. Identification depends on leaf shape, scent, glandularity, and habitat. Fortunately, all weak-scented Chenopodium species are edible, reducing the risk of dangerous confusion. Strong-scented, resinous Dysphania species should not be mistaken for it, as their sticky, aromatic leaves are immediately distinctive. Traditional / Indigenous Use Summary: Indigenous groups of the Great Basin, particularly the Goshiute, used buttered goosefoot seeds as a food resource, often grinding them into flour or adding them to porridges. Some groups may also have eaten the leaves as a vegetable. While not as prominent as pitseed goosefoot or slimleaf goosefoot, the species formed part of a broader suite of nutrient-rich wild grains that sustained people in arid and saline landscapes.

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None Known

Ecology & Wildlife: As a pioneer species, buttered goosefoot contributes to early successional plant communities, stabilising soils and providing forage for insects and small herbivores. Seeds offer food for granivorous birds and small mammals. The plant’s tolerance of saline and disturbed soils helps maintain ecological diversity in areas where few broadleaf plants can persist.

Special Uses