Tuesday, June 2, 2009

~ Identifying Lambsquarters ~

~ Photo of young lambsquarter , notice red hues ~


~ The new growth is mealy/fuzzy white , I think that's why it's
called lambsquarter ~



~ I tried to get a good photo of the stem , this photo isn't great , but the stem is ribbed and has reddish hues were it branches ~


~ If you turn the leaves over and rub them , you will see the mealy/powdery residue ~


~ When the leaves are washed ,
you will see the mealy residue in the water and around the bowl ~


~ Lambsquarter - Chenopodium album ~
AKA
Pigweed

The field guide I have said there are many similar species , most are edible. Flowers are small , greenish with red hues and seeds are tiny black.

Note ~ you should beware of Mexican Tea , which looks like lambsquarter , but Mexican Tea smells like varnish. There is another plant in the Chenopodium family called Jerusalem Oak which has sticky , oak type leaves and smells like turpentine. These plants aren't edible.

~ Warning ~ Information for educational purposes only , never eat or use any plant you're unsure of.

~ Herbal Blessings ~
JoyceAnn























8 comments:

  1. Flassie ,
    I saw the plant on your blog , I don't think it is lambsquarter. It may be Mexican Tea or Jerusalem Oak.
    Does it have white flowers , looks like I see a white bloom in your photo , but wasn't sure.

    ~ Blessings ~
    JoyceAnn

    ReplyDelete
  2. OH, OK! Thanks! I will not
    eat anything I am unsure of.

    But there are people out there
    that do.

    I remember years ago hearing on
    the news that some people ate
    mushrooms they thought were ok
    to eat and their livers failed.

    So I am cautious about making
    sure I have positive identification.

    I'll have to go back and see
    if they have bloomed. Seems they
    were getting close to blooming.

    When you break a leaf off of Lambsquarter does it ooze out
    a milky substance or is it clean?

    I am sure after looking at the photos I took of that plant and looking at yours that they are not the same plant.

    I know other plants that have that
    milky ooze in them too.

    I will look up Mexican Tea and Jerusalem Oak.

    My son is here and have some things
    going on in the family too that I
    do not know how much time I will have to spend online this summer.

    God Bless You and Yours!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I looked up those two plants
    and the leaf is more slim.

    I need to find out where I
    laid my book to see if it
    is in there.

    Thanks for all the help in
    trying to identify it!

    God Bless You and Yours!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Flassie ,
    The lambsquarter I harvest doesn't have an milky substance , just the white mealy residue.
    Hope all is well with your son and family. Enjoy his visit !

    ~ Blessings ~
    JoyceAnn

    ReplyDelete
  5. That weed bloom is yellow. It hasn't opened all the way yet and I haven't found it in the book I have.

    That other weed hasn't bloomed
    yet either. Not even a stalk.

    I wonder if it just doesn't
    bloom or maybe it is one that
    blooms later or in a couple yrs.

    God Bless You and Yours!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You know the blog entry I made about, What is this weed?

    I went by that plant this morning on my walk. Since I'd last been there it shot up like a weed.lol!

    I finally found out what it was.
    I looked up Tansy and Tansy
    Ragwort came up and that is
    what it looks like.

    God Bless You and Yours!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad you found out what it was , I get exited when I i.d. a new herb.

    ~ Blessings ~
    JoyceAnn

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think it is poisonous
    to cattle and horses or
    both. Probably humans too.
    I'd have to learn more about
    it.

    ReplyDelete