COMMON LAMBSQUARTERS, Chenopodium
album L. 1, roots; 2, leaves and flowers; 3,
flower; 4, seed; 5, distribution. Annual, reproducing
by seeds. Taproot short and much branched. Stems 3 to 4 feet
(0.9 to 1.2 m) tall, smooth, grooved, often with red or light green striations.
Branching varies from little to much, depending on competition. Leaves
alternate, 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) long, smooth, usually white mealy-coated,
especially on underside and in early stages, and with edges more or less
toothed. Flowers small, green, without petals, borne at the ends
of branches and in the axils of leaves. Seed shiny, black, disk-shaped,
1/16 inch (1.5 mm) in diameter, with a gray hull. Found in cultivated
crops.
MEXICANTEA, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. 6,
roots; 7, leaves and flowers; 8, seed; 9, distribution.
Somewhat similar to above with longer, narrower, wavy-edged leaves, not
mealy, and with unpleasant, pungent, aromatic odor. Widely distributed
but almost uncommon compared to lambsquarters.