Chenopodium urbicum

City goosefoot

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds Potential hazards — see below

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Summary

An annual herb growing to 0.6 m (2 ft) tall. Flowers August to September with seeds ripening August to October. Hermaphrodite and wind-pollinated. Tolerates light, medium, and heavy soils with mildly acid to basic pH. Requires full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be cooked as a spinach substitute, though raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities due to toxicity concerns. The seed can be cooked as a millet substitute, or ground into a powder and blended with cereal flours for making bread and similar foods. The seeds are small and fiddly; soak them overnight and rinse thoroughly before use to remove any saponins.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Croatia, Europe,

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade. It prefers a moderately fertile soil.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring directly in situ. Most of the seed typically germinates within a few days of sowing.

Other Uses

Gold and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.

References (1)

Luczaj, L. et al, 2014, Wild Food Plants of Dalmatia (Croatia). in A. Pieroni, C. L. Quave (eds.), Ethnobotany and Biocultural Diversities in the Balkans, p 138, 142