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Lambsquarter, Lamb's-quarters, (Brit.) Fat Hen or Pigweed (Chenopodium album) belongs to the Cockscomb family (Amaranthaceae), formerly to the Goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae)
This is a very common annual weed, growing almost everywhere in soils rich in nitrogen, especially on wasteland. It is a fast growing upright weed. Its pollen can contribute to hayfever like allergies. Frequent mowing usually controls the weed as it tends to grow upright.
The opposite leaves can be very varied in appearance. The first leaves are somewhat toothed and roughly diamond-shaped. The later leaves are entire and lanceolate-rhomboid, growing in numerous branches. These are unwettable and mealy in appearance, with on the underside a whitish coat.
The tiny flowers are radially symmetrical and grow in small cymes, which then form a branched inflorescence.
This species can be divided in several races, but it is difficult to differentiate between them.
- Chenopodium album var. album : Common Lambsquarters, Lambsquarters, White Goosefoot
- Chenopodium album var. microphyllum : Common Lambsquarters, Lambsquarters, White Goosefoot
- Chenopodium album var. missouriense : Common Lambsquarters, Lambsquarters, Missouri Goosefoot, Missouri Lambsquarters, White Goosefoot
- Chenopodium album var. stevensii : Common Lambsquarters, Lambs-quarters, Lambsquarters, Stevens' Lambsquarters, White Goosefoot
- Chenopodium album var. striatum : Common Lambsquarters, Lambsquarters, Lateflowering Goosefoot, White Goosefoot
This weed can be a host to the beet leafhopper, an insect which transmits curly top virus to beets.
It can be eaten as a vegetable, either steamed in entirety, or the leaves can be cooked like spinach. Each plant produces tens of thousands of black seeds. These are very nutritional : high in protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium
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