Cycloloma atriplicifolium

(Sprengel) J. Coulter

Winged pigweed

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Compact annual herb growing 0.5 m tall and wide. Hermaphrodite flowers bloom August to September with seeds ripening September to October, wind-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy and medium loamy soils, prefers well-drained soil, and grows in poor nutrition. Adaptable to mildly acid through very alkaline pH. Grows in semi-shade to full sun and tolerates drought. Hardy to UK zone 5.

Description

A herb. It grows each year from seeds. It grows 15-50 cm tall. The flowers occur singly and without stalks.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The seed is very small — about 1.5mm in diameter — but was used as a staple food by several Native North American tribes. It is cooked and can be ground into a powder, then mixed with wheat or other cereals for use in bread and similar preparations, or prepared as a gruel.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are ground and eaten in cakes.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant has been used in the treatment of fevers, rheumatism, and headaches.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Australia, North America, South America, USA,

Propagation

Sow seed in situ in April or May.

Other Uses

A pink dye is obtained from the seed.

Notes

Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Synonyms

Salsola atriplicifolia SprengelKochia atriplicifolia (Spreng.) Rothand others

References (4)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Flora of Australia, Volume 4, Phytolaccaceae to Chenopodiaceae, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1984) p 177
Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5:143. 1894
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/