Nettleleaf Goosefoot
Chenopodium murale
Family: Chenopodiaceae
What it is like
Chenopodium murale is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Dunes and in waste places, especially on light soils.
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to N. Africa, southwest and southern Asia.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, Chad, Congo, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Europe*, Ghana, Haiti, India, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tasmania, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, West Africa, West Indies, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked as a spinach. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder and mixed with wheat or other cereals and used in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 1
Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
How it is grown
An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade. It prefers a moderately fertile soil.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.
This plant can be weedy or invasive. A common weed of fields and roadsides. A noted weed parts of western USA.
Its other names
Local names
Nettle-leaved Goosefoot, Australian-spinach, salt-green, sowbane. Bahu, Cenizo de muro, Green fat hen, Hediondilla, Kachiyuyo, Kalo bethe, Khabeetha, Khad-bathal, Kharatua, Khobaitha, Kurund, Lampato, Quelete de Puerco, Quinoa negra, Quinguilla, Serua, Sowbane, Yuyu negro,