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Goosefoot (10)

Goosefoot is a genus of prolific, that is weedy, unattractive individuals. Tiny inconspicuous flowers grow in clusters yielding tens of thousands of seeds per plant. Many of the species are farinose, meaning they have a floury or mealy coating giving them a grayish appearance.

Chenopodium album

Lamb's Quarters
Chenopodium album

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 25, 2007
Location: Almont, CO
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Disturbed soil, fields

A fast-growing weed that grows to 2 feet with tiny green flowers. Stems may be reddish. Leaves may have a whitish powder on the under-side and are oblong to triangular, broader and rounded at the base making a "goosefoot" shape, common to this genus.

According to Flora of North America this is "... one of the worst weeds and most widespread synanthropic plants on the Earth, in its broad circumscription is also among the most polymorphic plant species." In other words, this is a vary varied species.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium atrovirens

Green Goosefoot
Chenopodium atrovirens

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA: Pinyon Goosefoot
Photo taken on: July 30, 2007
Location: Almont, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Disturbed soil, roadsides

Grows to 2 feet with stalked leaves pointing upwards. The flowers are greenish and tiny in tight clusters which turn pinkish when they go to seed.

Chenopodium atrovirens 

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium dessicatum

Aridland Goosefoot
Chenopodium dessicatum

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA: Slimleaf Goosefoot
Photo taken on: July 19, 2018
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Sandy areas, disturbed soil

Chenopodium desiccatumGrows erect to 14" high branching from the base and densely covered in a whitish powder. Leaves are about 1" long, narrow and fleshy without the typical goosefoot shape.  Flowers are tiny and greenish in dense clusters at the end of the branches and in the leaf axils. Leaves are similar to Desert Goosefoot but the growth habit is different.

Flora of North America reference.

Fremont's Goosefoot

Fremont's Goosefoot
Chenopodium fremontii

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: September 7, 2011
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Disturbed soil, fields

Grows to 2 feet with tiny green flowers. Similar to Lamb's Quarters but the leaves are bright green.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium glaucum var. salinum

Oak-leaf Goosefoot
Chenopodium glaucum var. salinum

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: August 9, 2014
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Moist, waste areas

Grows 12"-16" erect or prostrate branching from the base with reddish ribbed stems. Leaves are toothed and resemble an oak leaf. The leaves of this plant are not so pronounced. Flowers are in clusters with similar shaped leaf-like bracts.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium graveloens

Fetid Goosefoot
Dysphania graveolens (Chenopodium graveolens)

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: September 7, 2011
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry areas, slopes

Grows to 2 feet high with tiny flowers. Very aromatic.

Fetid Goosefoot

 

 

An inconspicuous plant until the fall when foliage turns bright red.

Photo taken on: September 25, 2011
Location: Burnt Mesa, NM

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium incanum var. incanum

Mealy Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum var. incanum

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA: Gray Goosefoot
Photo taken on: June 12, 2015
Location: CR 218, Rio Arriba, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry sandy areas, roadsides

Grows to 6" high spreading with stems densely branched from the base. Leaves are less than ½", thick, goosefoot shaped and floury giving a gray appearance. Tiny flowers are in dense clusters.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium incanum

Mealy Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum

Photo taken on: June 12, 2015
Location: CR 218, Rio Arriba, NM

This photo shows both varieties of Chenopodium incanum growing next to each other. The differences are easily seen in the growth habit and size of the leaves.

Chenopodium incanum var. elatum

Mealy Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum var. elatum

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA: Gray Goosefoot
Photo taken on: June 12, 2015
Location: CR 218, Rio Arriba, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry sandy areas, roadsides

Grows erect to over 2 feet high with stems branched from the base. Leaves are 1" long and triangular with rounded, occasionally pointed, lobes and tips. Tiny flowers are in dense clusters spaced along the stem.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium neomexicanum

New Mexico Goosefoot
Chenopodium neomexicanum

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: August 11, 2014
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Moist soil, roadsides

Grows to 2 feet with triangular, stalked leaves. The underside of the leaves are slightly mealy. Flower heads are spikes of tiny, greenish clusters of round flowers with narrow, leaf-like bracts.

Flora of North America reference.

Chenopodium pratericola

Desert Goosefoot
Chenopodium pratericola

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae)
AKA: Pale Goosefoot, Field Goosefoot, Narrowleaf Goosefoot
Photo taken on: August 11, 2014
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Sandy areas, floodplains, saline or alkaline soils

Grows to 2½ feet covered in a whitish powder. Leaves are narrow without the lobes. Flowers are tiny and greenish in dense clusters with leaf-like bracts. Similar to Aridland Goosefoot but a much taller plant branching above, not from the base.

Flora of North America reference.

Green & Brown Flowers