Plant · GBIF taxon 3083838
Common Lambsquarters
Chenopodium albumAlso known as White Goosefoot, Wild Spinach, Fat-Hen, Melde
Common lambsquarters is an adaptable, fast-growing annual herb recognized by its diamond-shaped, pale blue-green leaves covered in a powdery mealy coating. It thrives in rich, disturbed soils across sunny gardens, agricultural fields, and waste areas, producing thousands of long-lived seeds per plant. The inconspicuous greenish flower clusters bloom throughout summer, supporting diverse specialized insects while helping stabilize loose topsoil.
AnnualWeedDisturbed Soil
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- Leafminers
- Aphids
- Flea Beetles
ThreatsHerbicides, intensive land management
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, roadsides, disturbed soils, waste places
Life spanAnnual (1 year)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyAmaranthaceae
- GenusChenopodium
- SpeciesChenopodium album
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains soluble calcium oxalates toxic to pets if ingested in quantity; safe to observe at normal distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains soluble calcium oxalates and nitrates that cause kidney distress or toxic reactions in pets if ingested in quantity.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for erect stems with mealy white powder on young upper leaves and tight green flower spikes.
- What to do
- Keep pets from grazing on wild stands, and observe the plant without harvesting or ingesting.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Inspection: Look closely at young upper leaves to notice the powdery, mealy bloom on their undersides.
- Soil Indicator: Watch for dense patches growing in high-nitrogen, recently turned garden beds or fields.
Frequent Companion (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member no rights reserved · cc0
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