Chenopodium simplex
(Torr.) Raf.
Giant-seed Goosefoot, Mapleleaf Goosefoot
(c) Stephen Sentoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) James, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) James, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds
Leaves can be cooked and used like spinach, though raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities due to toxicity concerns. The seed can be cooked and ground into a powder for blending with wheat or other cereal flours when making bread and similar foods. The seeds are small and fiddly; soak them overnight and rinse thoroughly before use to remove any saponins.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
Canada, North America, USA,
How to Identify
Annual herb reaching 1.2 m tall with wind-pollinated hermaphroditic flowers blooming July to October and seeds ripening August to October. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils at mildly acid to basic pH. Requires full sun and moist soil conditions.
How to Grow
Propagation: Sow seed in spring directly in situ. Most of the seed typically germinates within a few days of sowing.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
Gold and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Annual herb reaching 1.2 m tall with wind-pollinated hermaphroditic flowers blooming July to October and seeds ripening August to October. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils at mildly acid to basic pH. Requires full sun and moist soil conditions.
Notes
There are about 100-150-250 Chenopodium species. They are mostly in temperate regions. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Names & Synonyms
References (3)
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 219
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Chenopodium gigantospermum)
- Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 26:144. 1929 (As Chenopodium gigantospermum)
