Goosefoot (Chenopodium)

Group I. Foliage with resinous glands or glandular hairs, calyx five-lobed or cleft; fls in dense glomerules disposed in short or elongate spike-like infls.

Group II. Foliage not glandular (AT with one exception); lvs not white mealy; larger lvs egg-shaped, coarsely toothed.

Group III. Foliage not glandular (AT with one exception); leaves densely white-mealy below.

Group I.

..... stems spreading or prostrate erect w/ ascending branches; lvs over 2" long, merely lobed pubescent w/ short glandular hairs; lvs 1-2" long; deep sinuses like oak-lf
mature calyx: ..... ..... .....
1)obovoid-urceolate, shallowly toothed, raised-reticulate (1.multifidum) numerous, obscurely puberulent; stem villous-puberulent; S Am, intro to waste places ..... .....
1) lobed to the midldle or below, not veiny or reticulate; fls in dense glomerules disposed in short or elongate spike-like infls ..... ..... .....
2) perianth smooth to minutely puberulent; seeds all or mostly horizontal ..... mexican tea g.f. (2.ambrosioides = resembling Ambrosia) lvs w/ minute yellow glands; lower lvs deeply sinuate-pinnatifid; fl spikes leafy; strong-scented weed of gardens, roadsides, wasteplaces; tro Am intro .....
3) perianth densely yellowish-glandular; seeds erect (3.pumilio = dwarf) lvs w large yellow glands beneath; waste places, Australian intro ..... .....
2) fls in a slender, thrysoid infl of small lateral cymes ..... ..... Jerusalem oak g.f. (4.botrys = bunch, raceme) lvs w deep sinuses; fl clusters nearly lfless; plant w odor of turpentine; waste places, Eurp intro

Group II

..... lvs not white mealy ..... lvs densely white-mealy below
..... ..... arrow-head lobed oak lvs
3 sepals; seeds erect coast-blite g.f. (6.rubrum = red) glomerules smaller & more numerous; lvs rhombic-ovate or oblong; salt marsh & brackish soil strawberry blite g.f. (7.capitatum = with heads) glomerules of fls rel. few & large, triangular-hastate; woodland clearings often following a fire; waste places; s to NJ oak-leaved g.f. (8.glaucum = blue-green) densely white-mealy; occ Eurp intro, esp northward
mostly 4 or 5 sepals; seeds erect ..... good King Henry g.f. (5.bonus-henricus = good Henry) Eurp intro weed .....

Group III.

..... ovate to elliptic arrow-head chevron broadly-ovate
1) seps 5, at maturity rounded on the back in conformity with the fr; seeds horizontal stinking goosefoot (9.vulvaria = old generic name) lvs broadly ovate; very fetid; occ Eurasian intro

many-seeded g.f. (10.polyspermum = many seeded) lvs green on both sides; entire

 city g.f. (12.urbicum = of cities) varied lvs; waste pls; occ Eurp intro

maple-leaved gf (13.gigantospermum) lf-teeth 1-4 per side; disturbed ground & moist woods; QE to VA

nettle-lvd gf (14.murale = growing on walls) 3 varieties; lvs long-petiolate; lf-teeth several per side; waste places; Eurp intro.

 

 ..... .....
1) seps at maturity not in full lconformity with the fruit; calyx pentagonal or almost star-shaped; more or less white-mealy ..... ..... lamb's quarters gf (16.album = white) chevron-shaped lvs; pericarp smooth; widespread Eurp intro weed

pitseed gf (17.berlandieri) #; 3 varieties; pericarp roughened; widespread

 woodland gf (15.standleyanum) lanceolate to rarely ovate; dry, open woods; s QE to FL

# = Jean Louis Berlandier, 1805-1851, its discoverer.

Kalm. 7/26/1748. The Chenopodium album, or goosefoot with sinuated leaves, grows in plenty in the gardens. But it is more scarce near the houses, in the streets, or dunghills and grain fields. This seems to show that it is not a native of America but has been brought over with other seeds from Europe. p. 64

Kalm 10/6/1748. The Chenopodium anthelminticum is very plentiful on the road and on the banks of the river, but chiefly in dry places in a loose sandy soil. The English who are settled here call it wormseed and Jerusalem oak. It has a disagreeable scent. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey its seeds are given to children as a cure for worms, and for that purpose they are excellent. The plant itself is common in both provinces. P. 86.

10/7/1748. The wormseed is also plentiful on the roads in a sandy soil such as that near the ferry opposite Philadelphia. I have already mentioned that it is given to children as a remedy for worms. It is then put into brandy, and when it has been there for a few hours it is taken out again, dried and given to the children, either in beer sweetened with syrup or in some other liquor. Its effects are a matter of dispute. Some people say it kills the worms; others again pretend that it furthers their increase. But I know from my own experience that this wormseed has had very good results upon children. P. 90.