SafePlants

Lambs Quarters: The Edible Weed

Lambs Quarters, often considered a common weed, is a surprisingly versatile and nutritious plant with a rich history of use as both food and medicine. Its prevalence in gardens and disturbed soil makes it readily accessible, while its nutritional value rivals that of cultivated greens like spinach.

Considerations for Pets

• Lambs Quarters can grow to a height of up to 6 feet, making a relatively large plant.
• It produces up to 75,000 seeds, so large amounts may be spread around a garden or yard.

Considerations for Children

• Lambs Quarters can grow to a height of up to 6 feet, making a relatively large plant.
• It produces up to 75,000 seeds, so large amounts may be spread around a garden or yard.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Chenopodium album
• Common Names: Lambs Quarters, Lambsquarter, White Goosefoot, Fat Hen, Wild Spinach, Pigweed, Bacon Weed, Dirty Dick, Muck Hill Weed, Goosefoot, Melde, Pitseed, Huauzontle, Tree Spinach.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)
• Note: Classified by Linnaeus in 1753 as Cbenopodium album (likely a typo in original text, should be Chenopodium album).

Distribution and Habitat

• Common lambsquarters is one of the most prevalent weed species found in the U.S. Soybean Belt.
• It is found throughout California up to an elevation of 5900 feet (1800 meters).
• It's commonly found in gardens, lawns, and any place where the soil has been disturbed.
• Native to Eurasia and North America (origin ambiguous).

Ecological Role

• Generally considered a weed, particularly an "establishment weed" that readily colonizes disturbed areas.
• It competes with cultivated plants in gardens and agricultural fields.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• It is a rapidly growing summer annual weed.
• Height averages 3 feet (90 cm), but may vary from a few inches to 6 feet (1.8 meters).
• Stems may have red streaks.
• Leaves are broadleaf.
• Seedlings have elliptic cotyledons (12-15 mm long), dull green.
• One plant can produce up to 75,000 seeds.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It competes with cultivated plants, such as soybean, for resources.
• Mentioned as a weed that people often remove from gardens and flowerbeds.

Quirky Facts

• It is considered by some to be a wild edible leafy green with a flavor similar to spinach or chard and is sometimes referred to as "tree spinach."
• Some find its raw flavor to be unremarkable, but it becomes more palatable when cooked.
• The leaves are described as soft, slightly downy, and mucilaginous, similar to spinach.

Resources

• USDA Record Number: "11244" for "Lambsquarters, raw".
• Purdue Extension: GWC-11. The Glyphosate, Weeds, and Crops Series. Biology and. Management of. Common. Lambsquarters. Bill Curran. 1-888-EXT-INFO.
• EatTheWeeds (http://www.eattheweeds.com/chenopodium-album-getting-goosed-2/)