ChenopodiaceaeGoosefoot Family

Organic Seed

May 2004

Leaves of orach

Family characteristics

Pollination-windBoth dioecious and perfectSeed type - cluster and multigermSeed maturity-indeterminate

when 60-70% is mature then harvest windrow and dry seed

SpinachSpinacia oleracea L. Origin: Central AsiaDioecious, outcrossing, mainly wind pollinatedImportance: Next to cabbage, spinach is the

most important of the vegetables grown for greens or pot herbs in the U.S.

Season, seeding to harvest: 6 to 8 weeks. Use: As pot herbs; shipped fresh, canned, frozen.

Teton

Avon Hybrid

Beet, Mangelwurzel, Sugar Beet, Swiss ChardBeta vulgaris

Origin: Mediterranean, from Greek times

BiennialOutcrossing, perfect

flowers, protandrousWind pollinated

Harvesting Mangels for feed (Beta vulgaris vulgaris) at Steve’s farm

Mangels of up to 63 lbs were harvested at Lulu Is. BC in 1900 (Stevenson Museum BC)

A mangel up close

Swiss chardBeta vulgaris cicla

Mariquita farm, Hollister CA

Orach, mountain spinachAtriplex hortensisOrigin Mediterranean: Greeks used

Lamb’s-quartersChenopodium album

WeedLeaves can be eatenSW Native Amer. Seed

groundMonoecious- Male and

female flowers in same plant

Insect or wind pollinated

Does this look familiar?

Good King HenryChenopodium bonicus-henricusAlso “fat hen plant” In English GardensPerrenial, hardyOutbreeding

QuinoaChenopodium quinoa

Quinoa grain

Quinoa variability

Quinoa harvesting

Nestle interested

in large scale

production of quinoa

Epizote, boldoChenopodium ambrosiodes

Plants of Hawaii

Weed in Latin AmericaUsed as tea for human

parasitesAnti-nematode properties

Chenopodium berlandieri

Used by Native Americans, pre corn’s arrival

Eastern USDomesticatedfour crops1-2000 BC:SquashChenopodium berlandieriSunflowerMarshelder

AmaranthaceaePigweedsAmaranthus sp.

Www.ipmdavis.ucd.edu

A. retroflexus (redroot)

Male and female flowers on same plant

Outcrossing, wind-pollinated

Amaranthus Amaranthus hypochondiacusA. cruentusOrigin:Andes