CHENOPODIASTRUM

Chenopodiastrum (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila & Borsch, Willdenowia 42: 14. 2012.

10 species

Chenopodiastrum murale

Chenopodiastrum murale (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila & Borsch, Willdenowia 42: 14. 2012; Chenopodium murale L., Sp. Pl. 1: 219. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 4. 1890; Nair, Fl. Bashahr Himal. 238. 1977; Sharma & Kachroo, Fl. Jammu (Illustr.) 2: t. 243. 1983; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 545. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 600. 2006; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 4: 287; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org Pakistan V. 204.

Annual herb, 15-50 cm, glabrous or sparsely farinose when young, rarely tinged with red. Stem erect, often much branched, especially in basal parts, branches +/- spreading, ribbed, proximal branches decumbent, green tinged red. Leaves alternate; petiole 1-3 cm; blade triangular, ovate or rhombic-ovate, 3-9.5 cm x 2.5-5.5 cm, margin coarsely dentate, teeth often incurved and acute, apex acute to obtuse, base cuneate; uppermost leaves lanceolate, usually dentate, sometimes entire, adaxially glabrous and farinose abaxially when young. Inflorescence terminal and axillary panicles, divaricately branched, branches shorter than subtending leaves, bearing flowers in cymose clusters (glomerules). Bracts absent. Flowers minute, green, actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous. Tepals 5, connate at base, ca. 1 mm long, perianth segments oblong or ovate, subacute, with a prominent keel abaxially near apex, incurved in fruit, farinose. Stamens 5, nearly equal to perianth, anthers slightly exserted, appear to be arranged in a circle, bithecous, thecae oblong to ovate. Ovary unilocular with 1 ovule; stigmas 2. Fruit utricle 1-1.5 mm diameter, enclosed in perianth and perianth falling with fruit, pericarp thin, membranous. Seeds horizontal, lenticular, orbicular, seed coat black, minutely rugose or papillose to +/- smooth.

Flowering and Fruiting: February to July
Common Names: Sowbane, Nettle-leaved goosefoot, Australian Spinach, Salt Green; Goyalo (Hindi)