California goosefoot
Chenopodium californicum

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 1 m tall. It can have many stems and form a mat. The leaf stalks are long. The leaves are sword shaped or arrowhead shaped. They are 10 cm long. There are sharp teeth along the edges. The flowers are in round clusters dotted along a flowering stalk. Each cluster has sveral flowers. Flat lobes of the flower cover the fruit.

There are about 100-150-250 Chenopodium species. They are mostly in temperate regions. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows up to 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are used for flour. The leaves and shoot are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Californian soap plant

Synonyms

Blitum californicum S. Watson;