| Common Name |
California Goosefoot, Indian Lettuce, |
| Latin Name |
Chenopodium californicum |
| Native Habitat |
Western North America 5,000 to 1,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Water |
Once or twice per month |
| Height X Width |
1 foot X 3 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
Toxic saponins in leaves more toxic to animals than
humans |
| Leaves |
Green, edible |
| Garden Suitability |
NA |
| Ornamental Value |
Showy leaves, flowers insignificant |
| Nature Value |
Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds use flowers |
| Native American Uses |
Leaves eaten like spinach (should only be eaten in small
quantities due to toxic saponins), leaves used to poison fish, seeds
ground to make breads, plant used to make green and gold dyes, roots
used to make detergent |
| Links |
|
| Images, nursery, and data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/1359.htm |
| Images and data |
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pldec198.htm |
| Data |
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Chenopodium+californicum |
| Distribution |
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1968 |
| Distribution |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CHENO |
