Volume 1 Issue
9
July 23, 2004
What Lambsquarter Species Is It?
The ‘Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Minnesota’ lists
seven lambsquarter species (goosefoot family) that may be
found in NW Minnesota. The common name for the plant in
the photo is pale goosefoot or oak-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium
glaucum L). Pale goosefoot is common in the region but
at very low densities in fields. It is a smaller plant
that rarely reaches over a foot in height and is
frequently observed on saline soils. It is reported to
have been introduced into the US from Europe but now is
distributed across much North America. In my observation,
pale goosefoot is not any more difficult to control with
herbicides than common lambsquarters.

Unlike several other lambsquarter species that are
edible as young plants pale goosefoot has a distinctly
bitter taste.
Carlyle Holen
Extension IPM Specialist—NW Minnesota
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