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Chenopodium overi - Aellen. ex Fedde.

Common Name Over's goosefoot
Family Chenopodiaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].
Habitats Aspen groves, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, Douglas fir-aspen, big sagebrush, meadows, and riparian habitats at elevations of 1400 - 3000 metres[270].
Range Western N. America - California to Montana, Arizona and New Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Chenopodium overi Over


Chenopodium overi Over

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Chenopodium overi is a ANNUAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Blitum hastatum.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[85]. The fruiting body is 3 - 5mm in diameter[270]. It has very little flavour. Leaves - cooked and used like spinach. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. Ground into a powder, mixed with wheat or other cereals and used in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.

References

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References

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Other Uses

Dye

Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[168].

Special Uses

References

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know how well it will grow in Britain, but it should succeed as a spring sown annual. According to some botanists this species is a part of C. capitatum[60]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[1, 200]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[200].

References

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Chenopodium acuminatum Annual0.6 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium albumFat Hen, LambsquartersAnnual0.9 0-0  LMHNM321
Chenopodium ambrosioidesMexican TeaAnnual/Perennial1.0 7-10  LMHNM233
Chenopodium ambrosioides anthelminticumWormseedAnnual/Perennial1.0 7-10  LMHNM23 
Chenopodium auricomumQueensland BluebushAnnual1.8 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium berlandieriSouthern Huauzontle, Pitseed goosefoot, Nuttall's goosefoot, Bush's goosefoot, Zschack's goosefootAnnual1.2 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium bonus-henricusGood King HenryPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM421
Chenopodium botrysJerusalem Oak, Jerusalem oak goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM22 
Chenopodium bushianumBush's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium californicumCalifornia GoosefootAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM21 
Chenopodium canihua Annual0.0 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium capitatumStrawberry Blite, Blite goosefootAnnual0.6 4-8  LMHNM31 
Chenopodium cristatumCrested GoosefootAnnual0.6 -  LMHNM21 
Chenopodium ficifoliumFig-Leaved GoosefootAnnual0.9 4-8  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium foliosumLeafy goosefootAnnual0.6 4-8  LMHNM30 
Chenopodium fremontiiGoosefoot, Fremont's goosefoot, Pringle's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium giganteumTree SpinachAnnual2.4 4-8  LMHNM30 
Chenopodium glaucumOak-Leaved GoosefootAnnual0.3 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium graveolensFoetid GoosefootAnnual0.9 -  LMHNM21 
Chenopodium hybridum Annual1.5 -  LMHNM21 
Chenopodium incanumMealy GoosefootAnnual0.5 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium leptophyllumNarrow Leaved GoosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium muraleNettleleaf GoosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium nuttalliaeHuauzontle, Nuttall's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM40 
Chenopodium opulifoliumSeaport goosefootAnnual0.8 0-0  LMHSNM20 
Chenopodium pallidicauleCañihuaAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM30 
Chenopodium polyspermumAll-Seed, Manyseed goosefootAnnual0.9 0-0  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium pratericolaDesert GoosefootAnnual1.0 -  LMHNM20 
Chenopodium quinoaQuinoa, Goosefoot, Pigweed, Inca WheatAnnual1.5 10-12 FLMHNM502
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

Aellen. ex Fedde.

Botanical References

60270

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