Lamb's Quarters
- Chenopodium album L.
- Goosefoot family
Common Names
 Hui-t'iao
(Chinese name)
Pigweed
White
goosefoot
Wild
Spinach
Parts Usually Used
Leaves
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Lamb's quarter is an erect, annual weed, 1-3 feet high; the stem
often mealy, red-streaked. Leaves somewhat diamond-shaped, coarsely
toothed; mealy white beneath. Flowers greenish-white, on densely flowered
spikes, inconspicuous; in clusters; June to October.
Where Found
Found in gardens, fields, waste places. Throughout the United States.
Medicinal Properties
Stomachic, antiscorbutic
Biochemical Information
Phosphorus, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B2, Niacin, and C
Legends, Myths and Stories
This weed found in most gardens makes a good spinach substitute.
The young tops are pinched off and steamed in a small amount of water.
The nutritional value is greater than spinach, and the flavor is similar.
Foliage and seeds are edible.
Although discarded by most Americans, not so the Native Americans.
Lamb's Quarters are a favorite among and gathered by Navajos, the
Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, all the tribes of Arizona, the Diggers
of California, and the Utahs. Boiled as an herb alone, or with other
foods, large quantities are also eaten in the raw state.
Uses
Native Americans ate the leaves to treat stomachaches
and prevent scurvy. Cold tea used for diarrhea.
Leaf poultice used for burns
and swellings. Fold remedy for vitiligo, a skin disorder.
Nutrient Content
Phosphorus, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B2, Niacin, and C
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