Chenopodium murale L.

Family: Chenopodiaceae


Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

nettleleaf goosefoot

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit (with or without attached perianth bracts)

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Disseminule a fruit with or without attached perianth bracts (calyx). Fruiting calyx ca. 1–2 mm wide, 5-lobed, lobes 0.5–1 mm long, imbricate, bluntly keeled on back, green or reddish purple, surface often farinaceous (covered with small, white scales).

Fruit an achene, round to ovoid or comma-shaped in outline, 1–1.5 mm in diameter, ca. 1 mm thick, the thin wall brown with splotches, pustulate, the base with a distinct round attachment scar, the apex sometimes with stylar remnant.

Seed horizontal within fruit, round in outline (1–1.5 mm in diameter), compressed vertically (ca. 1 mm thick), lenticular with an acute marginal rim. Surface shiny, minutely pitted or rugose to ± smooth, black.

Hilum marginal in notch.

Embryo annular, surrounding copious perisperm.

Similar Species

Chenopodium album

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI