White goosefoot

White goosefoot plant - Photo by Harry Rose

White goosefoot is usually considered a weed but it is cultivated in some regions and used as a leaf vegetable. It is sometimes called pigweed, which is confusing as that name is also used for Common purslane and for Amaranthus spp.

Names

Scientific
   Chenopodium album
English
   Fat-hen
   Goosefoot
   Lamb’s quarters
   Melde
   Pigweed
   White goosefoot
Dutch
   Melganzevoet
   Witte ganzevoet
Spanish
   Quinhuilla
French
   Chénopode blanc
German
   Weißer Gänsefuß
Italian
   Farinello comune

Taxonomy

Genus
   Chenopodium
Family
   Amaranthaceae
Order
   Caryophyllales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Distribution:

The plant is found almost worldwide. It is cultivated as a food crop in Northern India.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Annual

Climate and weather:

Grows in a wide range of climates.

Height:

Plant height can vary from 10 cm to 1.5 meter.

Propagation:

By seed

Harvesting:

Hand picking of leafs and young stems.

Uses:

Leafs and young shoots are used as a vegetable. The plants contain high levels of oxalic acid and should therefore be used in small quantities only.
Also grown as an animal feed in Asia and Africa.
In Europe and North America this plant is usually considered a weed.