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Chenopodium foliosum - (Moench.)Asch.

Common Name Leafy goosefoot
Family Amaranthaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
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 Waste places and waysides[100]. Slopes, forest margins and valleys in northern Tibet[266].
Range S. Europe to N. Africa and Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Chenopodium foliosum Leafy goosefoot


http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/plantguide/repro.html
Chenopodium foliosum Leafy goosefoot

 

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Summary

Taxonomic Note: This genus was formerly classified in the family Chenopodiaceae. Modern classifications include it within the Amaranthaceae.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Chenopodium foliosum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. 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: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. blitum. Hook.f.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked and used like spinach[61, 74, 177]. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - ground into a powder and cooked. It can be added to cereal flours and used in making bread. Very small and fiddly, the seed is about 1mm in diameter[266]. Soak the seed for 12 hours and then thoroughly rinse it in order to wash off any saponins before grinding it[K]. Fruit - raw. Fairly insipid, though quite attractive to look at[K]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

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   More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Dye

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

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[1, 200]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[200]. Formerly cultivated for its edible leaves[61]. This species is closely related to C. capitatum[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

Plant 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

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq (north), Lebanon, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Aga Buryat, Buryatia, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Gorno-Altay, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tyva, Respublika) TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy (north), North Macedonia (east), Montenegro, Romania, Serbia (east), Spain, France

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 :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Chenopodium acuminatum Annual0.6 -  LMHNM201
Chenopodium albumFat Hen, LambsquartersAnnual0.9 3-10 FLMHNM322
Chenopodium ambrosioidesMexican Tea. Epazote.Annual/Perennial1.0 6-11  LMHNM233
Chenopodium ambrosioides anthelminticumWormseedAnnual/Perennial1.0 7-10  LMHNM232
Chenopodium auricomumQueensland BluebushAnnual1.8 -  LMHNM201
Chenopodium berlandieriPitseed goosefootAnnual1.2 4-10  LMHNM202
Chenopodium bonus-henricusGood King HenryPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM421
Chenopodium botrysJerusalem oak leaf goosefootAnnual0.6 5-10  LMHNM222
Chenopodium bushianumBush's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium californicumCalifornia GoosefootAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM212
Chenopodium canihua Annual0.0 -  LMHNM201
Chenopodium capitatumStrawberry Blite, Blite goosefootAnnual0.6 3-9  LMHNM311
Chenopodium cristatumCrested GoosefootAnnual0.6 -  LMHNM211
Chenopodium ficifoliumFig-Leaved GoosefootAnnual0.9 4-8  LMHNM201
Chenopodium fremontiiFremont's goosefootAnnual0.6 4-9  LMHNM402
Chenopodium giganteumTree SpinachAnnual2.4 4-8  LMHNM302
Chenopodium glaucumOak-Leaved GoosefootAnnual0.3 -  LMHNM201
Chenopodium graveolensFoetid GoosefootAnnual0.4 4-9  LMHNM112
Chenopodium hybridum Annual1.5 -  LMHNM211
Chenopodium incanumMealy GoosefootAnnual0.5 4-9  LMHNM303
Chenopodium leptophyllumSlimleaf goosefootAnnual0.6 4-9  LMHNM303
Chenopodium muraleNettleleaf GoosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium nevadenseNevada GoosefootAnnual0.6 4-9 FLMNDM401
Chenopodium nuttalliaeHuauzontle, Nuttall's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM401
Chenopodium opulifoliumSeaport goosefootAnnual0.8 0-0  LMHSNM201
Chenopodium overiOver's goosefootAnnual0.8 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium pallidicauleCañihuaAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM301
Chenopodium polyspermumAll-Seed, Manyseed goosefootAnnual0.9 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium pratericolaDesert GoosefootAnnual0.7 4-9  LMNDM302
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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Expert comment

Author

(Moench.)Asch.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

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Subject : Chenopodium foliosum  
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