Chenopodium neomexicanum

Stems erect to ascending, sparsely branched, 2.5-5 dm, sparsely farinose. Leaves nonaromatic; petiole 0.5-1.3 cm; blade triangular to ovate or rhombic-ovate, 0.7-2.9 × 0.4-2.1 cm, apex apiculate, base broadly cuneate to truncate, subhastate with low, rounded or acutish lobes, margins entire above lobes, apex acute to obtuse, sparsely farinose abaxially. Inflorescences glomerules in paniculate spikes, 21-24 × 4-9 cm; glomerules maturing irregularly; bracts leaflike to linear. Flowers: perianth segments 5, distinct nearly to base; lobes ovate, 0.7-1 × 0.7-0.9 mm, apex obtuse, keeled, densely to sparsely farinose, partly covering seeds at maturity; stamens 5; stigmas 2, 0.2-0.3 mm. Achenes ovoid; pericarp adherent, black, honeycombed. Seeds lenticular or round, 1-1.3 mm diam., margins acute; seed coat coarsely honeycombed.

Fruiting late summer-early fall. Moist soils, roadsides, pinelands, igneous rock; 1500-2500 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.

FNA 2004, Springer et al. 2009

Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Ascending slender annual, sparsely branched, surfaces covered with a mealy powder (farinose) making the plant a dusty blue-green color, 30-100 cm tall. Leaves: Leaves ovate to rhombic, sometimes with a broadened base producing 3 lobes with acute to rounded tips, leaf veins not prominent, leaves somewhat thin and papery. Flowers: Flowers tiny and unassuming, sessile, ascending up the branch tips, appearing as small round balls (glomerules). Perianth in 5 segments, with ovate lobes, keeled, with 5 stigmas and 2 stamens. Flowers farinose. Fruits: Black, ovoid achenes, approximately 1 mm diameter. Ecology: Found on moist and disturbed soils on roadsides, in woodlands, on igneous rock, from 5,000-8,000 ft (1524-2438 m); fruiting late summer-early fall. Notes: This small annual has the appearance of a typical chenopod. Look for the distinctive leaves (think Lambsquarter's), and the powdery coating to help identify this plant. Similar to C. berlandieri, but distinguished by the margins of the leaves being entire or with only one pair of rounded to acute lobes at the base of blade. Ethnobotany: Unknown Synonyms: None Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011 Etymology: Chenopodium comes from the Greek chen, "goose," and pous, "foot," or podion, "a little foot," referring to the shape of the leaves in some species, while neomexicanum means of or from New Mexico.