Common Lambsquarters
Chenopodium album L.
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)
▲▼ seedlings, young plants
▲young plant
▲▼ characteristic whitish coating on new leaves
▲ striped stems
▲▼ mature plants
▲▼mature plants
Lambsquarters:
o summer annual with medium to pale green and red-striped stems, often much branched, growing 1-6’ tall
o leaves shaped like a goose foot, often with whitish powdery coating near stem tips
o is a major agronomic crop weed, plus found in vegetable gardens and non-crop areas
o prefers fertile, cultivated soils—good indicator of good soil for growing
o leaves are edible when young
o similar to velvetleaf in crop damage potential
o there are a number of close, similar-appearing, yet different species of “lambsquarters” or “goosefoot” that might be found in various areas of the midwest, and where lambsquarters-like weeds appear to be a serious crop problem, exact identification should be determined to be sure control methods will be most effective
o similar species include: pitseed goosefoot, slimleaf goosefoot, desert goosefoot, nettleleaf goosefoot, common orach