Fat Hen, Lambsquarters

Chenopodium album

Physical Characteristics

Chenopodium album is a ANNUAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 71° N,. N. and S. Africa, Asia, Australia and N. America

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Seed Edible Uses: A top-tier wild edible producing excellent spinach-like greens and easily processed, highly nutritious quinoa-like seeds. Safe when cooked and exceptionally abundant, it remains one of the most important edible “weeds” worldwide. Edible Uses & Rating: Both the leaves and seeds are edible. Lambsquarter is an excellent wild vegetable with spinach-like leaves that serve well both raw and cooked. The seeds are also edible and were historically an important grain-like food, comparable in many ways to quinoa. As a wild edible, lambsquarter ranks extremely high: the leaves are flavorful, abundant, and nutritious, and the seeds represent a reliable caloric resource accessible in large quantities. Its rating among wild foods is exceptional, placing it among the best all-purpose edible plants in disturbed or cultivated landscapes [2-3]. Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 20, 54, 62, 102]. A very acceptable spinach substitute[183], the taste is a little bland but this can be improved by adding a few stronger-flavoured leaves[9]. One report says that, when eaten with beans, the leaves will act as a carminative to prevent wind and bloating[257]. The leaves are best not eaten raw, see the notes above on toxicity[74]. The leaves are generally very nutritious but very large quantities can disturb the nervous system and cause gastric pain[74]. The leaves contain about 3.9% protein, 0.76% fat, 8.93% carbohydrate, 3% ash[179]. A zero moisture basis analysis is also available[218]. Edible seed - dried and ground into a meal and eaten raw or baked into a bread[[2, 4, 12, 14, 54, 102, 183]. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads[183]. The seed is very fiddly to harvest and use due to its small size[9]. Although it is rather small, we have found the seed very easy to harvest and simple enough to utilize[K]. The seed should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before being used in order to remove any saponins. The seed contains about 49% carbohydrate, 16% protein, 7% ash, 5.88% ash[114, 179]. Young inflorescences - cooked[183]. A tasty broccoli substitute[K]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Fresh leaves have a mild, spinach-like flavor with a slightly salty undertone and no bitterness. The mealy surface can feel soft and pleasant and helps thicken soups when cooked. Leaves are excellent as salad greens when young, though the oxalate content makes long-term consumption of large raw quantities unwise. Cooking neutralizes harshness and improves digestibility, producing a flavor comparable to spinach but slightly richer [2-3]. Seeds are tiny but delicious when toasted or boiled. Toasting imparts a nutty, quinoa-like aroma. Boiling creates a soft porridge with a faint sweetness. Combining toasting and boiling often yields the best flavor and texture. Seeds can also be ground into flour for breads or pancakes. The papery pericarp is thin and softens during cooking; elaborate processing is rarely required [2-3]. Seasonality (Phenology): Lambsquarter germinates in spring and grows vigorously through summer, producing abundant leaves until flowering. Flowering typically begins in mid-summer, with seed ripening from late summer through autumn. Leaves remain edible until the plant becomes overly tough near maturity. Seeds persist on drying stalks well into late autumn, sometimes into early winter if not dispersed by wind or wildlife. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Leaves contain oxalates and saponins, especially in older foliage. Cooking reduces these compounds significantly. Consuming very large quantities of raw leaves may cause digestive discomfort or—rarely—oxalate-related issues in susceptible individuals. Seeds are generally safe but should be cooked for digestibility. Avoid harvesting from chemically treated fields or roadsides [2-3]. Harvest & Processing Workflow: For leaf harvest, pick young growing tips or tender upper leaves in spring and early summer. Wash thoroughly to remove soil and the natural mealy coating. Use raw in salads or lightly steam or boil for cooked dishes. For seeds, wait until late summer or autumn when seed heads dry to a dark color. Strip seed clusters into a container, winnow lightly to remove excess chaff, and toast or boil. Storage is easy: dried seeds keep for months in airtight containers. Cultivar / Selection Notes: No named cultivars exist for C. album, though related species such as quinoa have been domesticated. Garden volunteers may vary in leaf size, color, and mealy coating. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Goosefoot species are often confused with one another. Chenopodium berlandieri, C. fremontii, and C. pratericola can appear similar. Lambsquarter is distinguished by its triangular leaves, mealy white coating, and relatively mild odor. Young amaranths resemble goosefoots but have different leaf venation and lack the mealy surface. Traditional / Indigenous Use Summary: Many Indigenous nations—including Apache, Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, Pima, and Pueblo peoples—used lambsquarter as both a leafy green and seed crop. Leaves were boiled or dried for winter use, while seeds were ground into flour, used in porridge, baked into bread, or combined with other grains. Archaeological evidence shows lambsquarter seeds used in North America for over 8,000 years and possibly cultivated during the Eastern Agricultural Complex.

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antiphlogistic Antirheumatic Contraceptive Dysentery Laxative Odontalgic Urinary Fat hen is not employed in herbal medicine, though it does have some gentle medicinal properties and is a very nutritious and healthy addition to the diet[268]. The leaves are anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, mildly laxative, odontalgic[172, 222, 243, 268]. An infusion is taken in the treatment of rheumatism[257]. The leaves are applied as a wash or poultice to bug bites, sunstroke, rheumatic joints and swollen feet, whilst a decoction is used for carious teeth[218]. The seeds are chewed in the treatment of urinary problems and are considered useful for relieving the discharge of semen through the urine[272]. The juice of the stems is applied to freckles and sunburn[218]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of bloody dysentery[272]. Food that comprises 25.5% of the powdered herb may suppress the oestrus cycle[218].

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[K]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food, but these plants are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plant will reduce its 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[238]. There is also a report that very large quantities of the leaves have caused photosensitivity in some people[74]. Only the raw leaves can cause problems, and then only if large quantities are consumed[172]. A further report says that if the plant is grown in soils that contain too much nitrates then the plant can concentrate these substances in the leaves. Nitrates have been shown to cause many health problems including stomach cancers and blue-baby syndrome. In nitrogen-rich soils, the plants can also concentrate hydrogen cyanide[218]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.