2223.000 Chenopodium L. - Goosefoots

Annual or perennial eglandular herbs. Young stems and leaves densely covered with vesicular globose trichomes becoming cup-shaped when dry and mostly persistent at maturity. Stems usually grooved or angular and often striped with red, white or green. Leaves alternate or opposite. Flowers bisexual and female, in small cymes arranged in a branched inflorescence. Bracteoles 0. Perianth segments (4-)5-lobed, without a prominent midvein visible within. Stamens usually 5.

Derivation of name: In Greek: goose-foot, referring to the shape of the leaves of some species.

Worldwide: c. 100 species, mainly in temperate regions

Zimbabwe: 4 taxa.