Lamb’s Quarters

Chenopodium album

keen-oh-POAD-ee-um AL-bum

Amaranthaceae

Native to:  Europe and Asia.  Now has one of the widest ranges of all plants – around the world, from tropics to arctic.

Florida abundance and distribution:  Frequent in disturbed areas throughout Florida.

Recognition:  Upright with alternate toothed leaves and tiny greenish flowers and fruit crowded toward the tops of stems.

Potentially confusion species:  Nettleleaf Goosefoot (Chenopodium murale) is similar, and both species are variable.  The uppermost leaves next to the flowers and fruit are typically narrow with  few widely spaced teeth (or none) in Lamb’s Quarters – in Nettleleaf Goosefoot these leaves tend to be wider and jagged with several irregular teeth.

Other:  Lamb’s quarters is one of the world’s worst agricultural weeds, especially in temperate areas. Young leaves and stems of lamb’s quarters are cooked and eaten.  They do, however, have very high levels of oxalic acid, which may be a health hazard.

Contributed by: David Black, Ph.D.