Sand weed grain, Sand weed
Agriophyllum squarrosum

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 15-60 cm high. It has long roots. The stems are erect and light green. The branches are covered with branched hairs. The leaves do not have leaf stalks. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 2-8 cm long by 4-10 mm wide. There is a spine at the tip. The flowers are small and in spikes in the axils of leaves. They are in spiny and hairy groups. The fruit are crowded in a head. The seeds is like millet. It is 1-5 mm across.

There are 6 Agriophyllum species. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on dunes and sandy places. It grows on sandy soils in the deserts of Central Asia. It can grow in arid places. In Inner Mongolia.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia

How it is used for food

The shoots and leaves are eaten. The seeds are eaten as a grain. The seed are used to make flour.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bodaa ebesu, Chulger, Sha peng, Soulkhir

Synonyms

Agriophyllum arenarium Marschall von Bieberstein; Agriophyllum arenarium Bunge; Agriophyllum gobicum Bunge; Agriophyllum mongolicum Moq.; Agriophyllum pungens (Vahl) Link ex A. Dietr.; Corispermum pungens Vahl;