Chenopodium graveolens

Chenopodium graveolens Willd.

by Adrian Stone, Native Plants of Arizona 2004
Common names: Fetid goosefoot (8)
Family: Chenopodiaceae (2)
Synonymy: Chenopodium graveolens var. neomexicanum (Aellen) Aellen, Chenopodium incisum Poir., Chenopodium incisum var. neomexicanum Aellen, Teloxys graveolens (Willd.) W.A. Weber, Chenopodium cornutum ((Torr.)Benth.&Hook.) (3,9)
Etymology: Greek chen or chenos “a goose” and podion “a little foot” pous or podos “foot” referring to the shape of the leaves graveolens means “strong smelling” (6)

Identification
Growth form: Herbaceous, to 1m (9)
Roots:
Stem: Glandular, stems turn red in the fall (5)
Leaves: Alternate, oval or oblong, 2-6 cm in length, 1-3 cm wide (5)
Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers hermaphrodite, small and inconspicuous (1)
Fruit: achene (5)
Similar species:

Ecology
Life history: Annual herb (5)
Native/introduced: Native (7)
Photosynthetic pathway: C3
Phenology: Flowers from July-October, wind pollinated, shade intolerant (5,7)
Distribution: All over North America , common weed on cultivated ground 3,300-9,000' (8)
Uses: Used as an emetic (induces vomiting). Plant steeped in water and vapor inhaled for headache. Seeds ground, mixed with corn meal and made into small dumplings wrapped in corn husks. Plant used to protect people from lightning during thunder showers ( Acoma and Laguna Indians). Used, with other herbs, in the liniment for the Mountain Chant (Navajo). Cold infusion taken to give protection in warfare (Navajo). Gold/green dyes can be obtained from whole plant. Leaves – raw or cooked can be eaten like spinach. People with rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones, or hyperacidity should take caution because the leaves and seeds contain small amounts of saponins and oxalic acid.(4,9)

References

1. Clements, F.E. 1914. Rocky Mountain Flowers. Hafner Publishing Co. New York , New York .

2. Epple, A.O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona . Falcon Press Publishing Co. Inc. Helena , Montana

3. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) http://www.itis.usda.gov .

4. Moerman, D. Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, food, dyes,fibers and more by native peoples of North American. With support from the Universityof Michigan-Dearborn http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

5. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Part of the National Genetics Resources Program (NGRP). www.ars-grin.gov .

6. Quattrocchi, U. 2000. CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology vol. I and III. CRC Press. Washington D.C.

7. Rickett, H.W. 1965. Wild Flowers of the United States vol. 4: The Southwestern States part 2 of 3 parts. McGraw Hill Book Co. New York , New York .

8. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The Plants Database, Version 3.5. http://plants.usda.gov . National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , La.

Chenopodium graveolens Willd. by Adrian Stone, Native Plants of Arizona 2004 Common names: Fetid goosefoot (8) Family: Chenopodiaceae (2) Synonymy: Chenopodium graveolens var. neomexicanum (Aellen) Aellen, Chenopodium incisum Poir., Chenopodium incisum var. neomexicanum Aellen, Teloxys graveolens (Willd.) W.A. Weber, Chenopodium cornutum ((Torr.)Benth.&Hook.) (3,9) Etymology: Greek chen or chenos “a goose” and podion “a little foot” pous or podos “foot” referring to the shape of the leaves graveolens means “strong smelling” (6) Identification Growth form: Herbaceous, to 1m (9) Roots: Stem: Glandular, stems turn red in the fall (5) Leaves: Alternate, oval or oblong, 2-6 cm in length, 1-3 cm wide (5) Inflorescence/flowers: Flowers hermaphrodite, small and inconspicuous (1) Fruit: achene (5) Similar species: Ecology Life history: Annual herb (5) Native/introduced: Native (7) Photosynthetic pathway: C3 Phenology: Flowers from July-October, wind pollinated, shade intolerant (5,7) Distribution: All over North America , common weed on cultivated ground 3,300-9,000' (8) Uses: Used as an emetic (induces vomiting). Plant steeped in water and vapor inhaled for headache. Seeds ground, mixed with corn meal and made into small dumplings wrapped in corn husks. Plant used to protect people from lightning during thunder showers ( Acoma and Laguna Indians). Used, with other herbs, in the liniment for the Mountain Chant (Navajo). Cold infusion taken to give protection in warfare (Navajo). Gold/green dyes can be obtained from whole plant. Leaves – raw or cooked can be eaten like spinach. People with rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones, or hyperacidity should take caution because the leaves and seeds contain small amounts of saponins and oxalic acid.(4,9) References 1. Clements, F.E. 1914. Rocky Mountain Flowers. Hafner Publishing Co. New York , New York . 2. Epple, A.O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona . Falcon Press Publishing Co. Inc. Helena , Montana 3. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) http://www.itis.usda.gov . 4. Moerman, D. Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, food, dyes,fibers and more by native peoples of North American. With support from the Universityof Michigan-Dearborn http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ 5. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) of the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Part of the National Genetics Resources Program (NGRP). www.ars-grin.gov . 6. Quattrocchi, U. 2000. CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology vol. I and III. CRC Press. Washington D.C. 7. Rickett, H.W. 1965. Wild Flowers of the United States vol. 4: The Southwestern States part 2 of 3 parts. McGraw Hill Book Co. New York , New York . 8. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The Plants Database, Version 3.5. http://plants.usda.gov . National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , La. 9. Wills, Calvin Online gardening website. Copyright 1997-2004 www.gardenbed.com