Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot Family Leaves of orach Organic Seed May 2004
Family characteristics Pollination-wind Both dioecious and perfect Seed type - cluster and multigerm Seed maturity-indeterminate when 60-70% is mature then harvest windrow and dry seed
Spinach Spinacia oleracea L. Origin: Central Asia Dioecious, outcrossing, mainly wind pollinated Importance: 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 Chard Beta vulgaris Origin: Mediterranean, from Greek times Biennial Outcrossing, perfect flowers, protandrous Wind pollinated
Beta vulgaris Biennial Outcrossing Wind-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 chard Beta vulgaris cicla
Orach, mountain spinach Atriplex hortensis Origin Mediterranean: Greeks used Mariquita farm, Hollister CA
Lamb’s-quarters Chenopodium album Weed Leaves can be eaten SW Native Amer. Seed ground Monoecious- Male and female flowers in same plant Insect or wind pollinated
Does this look familiar?
Good King Henry Chenopodium bonicus-henricus Also “fat hen plant” In English Gardens Perrenial, hardy Outbreeding
Quinoa Chenopodium quinoa
Quinoa grain
Quinoa variability
Quinoa harvesting
Nestle interested in large scale production of quinoa
Epizote, boldo Chenopodium ambrosiodes Weed in Latin America Used as tea for human parasites Anti-nematode properties Plants of Hawaii
Chenopodium berlandieri Used by Native Americans, pre corn’s arrival
Eastern US Domesticated four crops 1-2000 BC: Squash Chenopodium berlandieri Sunflower Marshelder
Amaranthaceae Pigweeds Amaranthus sp. A. retroflexus (redroot) Male and female flowers on same plant Outcrossing, wind-pollinated Www.ipmdavis.ucd.edu
Amaranthus Amaranthus hypochondiacus A. cruentus Origin: Andes