Chenopodium desiccatum
Encyclopedia
Chenopodium desiccatum is a species of flowering plant in the goosefoot family
known by the common name aridland goosefoot.
It is native to parts of western North America, including sections of the Western United States
and southern Western Canada
. It grows naturally in open land such as prairie
and dune
s, chaparral
, adapts well to disturbed areas such as roadsides, and in montane habitats such as in the Transverse Ranges
and Sierra Nevada of California
.
is an array of tightly-packed clusters of tiny flowers. Each dusty flower has a five-lobed corolla which encloses the developing fruit.
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodiaceae were a family of flowering plants, also called the Goosefoot Family. They are now included within family Amaranthaceae. The vast majority of Chenopods are weeds, and many are salt and drought tolerant. A few food crops also belong to the family: spinach, beets, chard, quinoa, and...
known by the common name aridland goosefoot.
It is native to parts of western North America, including sections of the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and southern Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
. It grows naturally in open land such as prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
and dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s, chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, adapts well to disturbed areas such as roadsides, and in montane habitats such as in the Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
and Sierra Nevada of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Description
Chenopodium desiccatum is an annual herb producing an erect, branching stem up to about 35 centimeters in maximum height. It is powdery in texture, especially on the leaves and flowers. The fleshy leaves are less than 3 centimeters long and generally oval in shape with a smooth edge. The inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an array of tightly-packed clusters of tiny flowers. Each dusty flower has a five-lobed corolla which encloses the developing fruit.