Scientific Family
Chenopodiaceae
Synonyms
Chenopodium pratericola, Chenopodium oblongifolium
Other common names
narrowleaf goosefoot
desert goosefoot
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
1 to 4 feet
Riparian
Yes
A stout plant that branches from the base.
Leaf blares are 3 to 4 times long as wide, 3 nerved, toothed near base, green above with a meal-like covering below. Seeds mature uniformly and easily separate from the fruit. The small bladdery fruit is mostly covered by the calyx (bracts).
Habitat
Originally found in open undisturbed soils, prairies, and dunes but it has spread to include open disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
100
High elevation
8500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are small, stalkless and densely covered by whitish mealy scales.
Flower color
Greenish-white
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are short stalked, whitish on the lower surface and greener on the top. Leaves may be 1-veined with smooth edges or 3-veined and lobed at the base of the plant.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Black
Shiny seeds are disk shaped and warty.