Chenopodium murale

Chenopodium murale
Chenopodium murale
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Chenopodium
Species: C. murale
Binomial name
Chenopodium murale
L.

Chenopodium murale is a species of plant in the amaranth family known by the common names Nettle-leaved Goosefoot, Australian-spinach, salt-green, sowbane, Mauer-Gänsefuß (German), quenopódio (Brasil).[1] This plant is native to Europe and parts of Asia and northern Africa, but it is widespread worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas due to its being easily introduced. It is a common weed of fields and roadsides.

Contents

Description

This is an annual herb reaching 70 centimeters in height with an erect stem which is usually red or red-streaked green and leafy with green foliage. The oval to triangular leaves are toothed and broad, smooth on the upper surface and powdery on the undersides.

The inflorescences are powdery clusters of spherical buds. The buds do not open into typical flower blossoms but remain with the sepals covering the ovary as the fruit develops.

Uses

The seeds are edible, and the shoots, stalks, and leaves can be eaten as greens.[2]

References

  1. ^ USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (28 April 2011). "Chenopodium murale ininformation from NPGS/GRIN" (Online Database). Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). Beltsville, Maryland: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?311139. Retrieved 28 April 2011. 
  2. ^ "Native American Ethnobotany" (Database). University of Michigan - Dearborn. http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Chenopodium+murale. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 
  • Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press.  ISBN 0-89672-614-2

External links