Chenopodium - A Lovely Weed

The heat and humidity are finally here.  My tomatoes and peppers, if they could, would be jumping for joy.  I will do the jumping for them.  It finally feels like summer. 
And with that, it's time to get back to what this blog is supposed to be about - wild plants!  Thanks for sticking around and reading while I dealt with my wisdom teeth, the neighbor's dogs and my dog (who is vastly improving ever day!)

I want to talk today about Lambs Quarters (Chenopodium album).  This is a "weed" that I can almost guarantee you have growing in your yard, your sidewalk or your garden.  Maybe check that forgotten patch of overgrown plants behind the garage?
Once you see it, you will forever be seeing it (and once you eat it, you'll forever be looking for it!).

This plant has many common names - lambs quarters, pigweed and goosefoot.  The name "goosefoot" comes from the thought that the leaves resemble a goose's foot.  As a matter-of-fact, Chenopodium actually translates to "goose foot."  Another interesting "feature" of this plant that is reminiscent of the goose is the white, mealy underside of the leaf.  This is commonly mistaken for either a pesticide/herbicide or mold.  It is in fact neither, but a nifty feature of the plant that allows water to just roll off the leaves (like water running off a goose's back!). 

Here is the underside of the leaf - which you can see is has a white hue to it.  (If you encounter some  Chenopodium try spraying it with the hose or splashing it with water.  The water will just bead and roll off.)
This plant usually grows between 3-5 feet tall and has a slender, grooved stem.  The stem can be tinged red, most often near the leaf joints. 
This plant is a favorite of foragers because it is quite tasty (has a spinach like taste), prolific, easy to find and nutritious. 
According to "Wild Man" Steve Brill "if you begin learning wild foods with only a few wild plants, this widely distributed, easy-to-identify, tasty, nutritious and long in season plant should be one of the first on your list."
To prepare this tasty treat, trim the leaves off the stems and use it anyway you would spinach.  Raw in salads, steam it, saute it, add it to soups and stews. The leaves are full of beta carotene, calcium, iron and potassium and it dries well so you can save it for winter time soups or powder it to add nutrients to various dishes.  The seeds are also edible providing calcium, protein and potassium.

One thing to be cautious of when dealing with lambs quarters is that it will absorb nitrates from the soil and can make you sick.  If you suspect the area you have located your lambs quarters to be contaminated, move along and find another spot.

And..... don't forget I also started blogging for the Lakewood Patch!
 http://lakewood-oh.patch.com/groups/urban-foraging/p/prolific-purslane

Thanks for reading!