Chenopodium album Similar to wild spinach, eaten in moderation

Taxonomy:       

Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophytes Class: Angiosperms Class: Eudicots Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Chenopodium Species: C.Album

             

Synonym:

Atriplex alba

Botrys alba

Chenopodium album var. album

Chenopodium album subsp. album

Chenopodium album subsp. amaranthicolor

Chenopodium amaranthicolor

Chenopodium glomerulosum

Chenopodium viride

 

How to identify it?

Chenopodium album is an erect annual herbaceous plant up to 150 cm in height, a common wild plant in Algeria that reproduces rapidly especially in arid lands, usually growing on the roadsides at high altitudes of the family Amaranthaceae. Its leaves are white on both sides very variable, generally toothed spear-shaped, giving white flowers from July, which last until October. Small flower clusters without petals grow at the end of long stems that bear many green leaves. The lower leaves of the stem have a toothed shape, while the upper leaves are completely lanceolate, without teeth. The fruit is a small piece containing a shiny black bean. It spreads by the wind.

   

Type Of Plant	Life Cycle	Height	Flowering Time	Altitude
Herbaceous	Annual	0.2  to 1 m	July to Oct	0  to 1600 m

Mediterranean	Edible	Color	Abundance	Toxicity
Yes	Yes/Leaves	Green	Very common	Contain Oxalates

 Other Common Name:

Arabic	Berber/Targui	English	French	Other Name
Soltan Elbhair	There is no specific name	Fat hen Common pigweed	Epinard sauvage Chénopode blanc	White goosefoot

 

Medical use:

It has some medicinal properties such as:

Laxative.

It was used against respiratory problems such as bronchitis and sciatica.

The leaves are rich in proteins but also in vitamins A and C, antioxidants and antitoxins.

For the treatment of rheumatism, a concoction made from it is often given.

The leaves of the plant can be used to treat insect bites.

This plant has edible leaves and seeds but some species of the genus to which this plant belongs may contain saponin, which is a toxic substance. But cook this vegetable.

 

The edible part is the leaves of the plant and can be cooked as a green vegetable

Chenopodium album is very rich in nutrients: 20% protein by dry weight and all essential amino acids, plenty of calcium and iron, vitamins A, B, C.But it also contains oxalic acid and saponins, which are toxic in large amounts.

It has more iron and protein than spinach and cabbage, and it has more B1 vitamins and calcium than cabbage.

 

Be careful not to confuse it with another plant, the leaves are similar in shape

 Related species:

§  Chenopodium album

·        Chenopodium album subsp. album

·        Chenopodium album subsp. amaranthicolor

·        Chenopodium album subsp. borbasii

·        Chenopodium album subsp. opulifolium= C.opulifolium

 

§  Chenopodium ambrosioides

§  Chenopodium bonus-henricus 

§  Chenopodium botrys

§  Chenopodium chenopodioides

§  Chenopodium glaucum

§  Chenopodium hybridum

§  Chenopodium murale

§  Chenopodium opulifolium

§  Chenopodium vulvaria