Chenopodium opulifolium

Stems erect to ascending, usually much-branched, 0.2-0.7(-10) dm, densely farinose. Leaves non-aromatic; petiole 0.5-2(-3) cm, shorter than or equaling leaf blades; blade ovate to rhombic-ovate, 1-3.5(-4.5) × 1-3(-4) cm, base broadly cuneate to abruptly truncate, distinctly 3-lobed, margins dentate to ± entire, apex obtuse (rarely subacute), grayish, usually densely farinose on both surfaces. Inflorescences glomerules in terminal and lateral compound spikes, 2-19 cm; glomerules subglobose, 3-4 mm diam.; bracts absent. Flowers: perianth segments 5, distinct nearly to base; lobes ovate, ca. 1 × 1.1 mm, apex obtuse, densely farinose, keeled, covering fruit at maturity; stamens 5; stigmas 2, 0.2 mm. Utricles depressed-ovoid; pericarp nonadherent, smooth to indistinctly granulate. Seeds lenticular to compressed-subglobose, 0.8-1.25 mm diam.; seed coat black, smooth or faintly reticulate. 2n = 54.

Fruiting late summer-fall. Disturbed soils in open habitats; 0-200 m; introduced; Ont.; Ill., Ind., Md., N.C., Pa.; native s Europe, introduced occasionally in other parts of the world.

Many previous reports of Chenopodium opulifolium in North America were based on misidentifications. Determining its present occurrence and exact distribution in the New World requires special study.

Differing from characteristic C. album mainly in its wider lvs, the larger ones nearly as wide as long.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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