Lamb's quarters
Chenopodium album
Amaranthaceae
Image Provider(s): netherbarium
Edible Uses
Leaf
The taste of the leaves reminds the taste of sorrel. It can be consumed raw in salads, or steamed as a side dish. It is a perfect vegetable also for a soup. Caution ! Do not consume large quantities of the leaves and avoid the daily consumption due to the saponin and the oxalic acid content.
Medicinal Uses
Therapeutic effect is not significant.
Main Characteristics
20 - 150 cm tall, annual plant. Stems are round with green or red ribs. Its leaves are varied in shape, rhomboid, ovate or lanceolate, ending up in a peak. Leaves are whitish and have a floury texture because of its hairs. Inflorescence is a green, dense spike. The fruit is a capsule with one seed in it.
Habitats
Along the road side
Forest edge
Weed associations
Harvesting aid
Leaf
August, July, June, May, November, October, September
The leaf can easily be peeled off from the stalk. It is very adaptable plant living also in contaminated environment, so pay attention to gather only from clean area.
Confusion with other plants
Many other species from the Chenopodium L. and the Atriplex L. genus are similar to the Lamb's quarters. They are also edible.
Description
Life Span: annual
Size: 20 cm - 1,5 m
Bloom time: August,
July,
June,
May,
November,
October,
September,
Flower
Inflorescence type: Raceme
Flower Colour: Green 
Flower shape: indistinct
Stem
Stem Type: bordás 
Leaf
Foliage type: Alternate 
Foliage texture: Smooth
Leaf shape: Rhomboid
Leaf margin: Undulate
Leaf type: Simple
Fruit
Fruit Category: Seed
Fruit type: Capsule 
