Chenopodium Album

Chenopodium Album is a fast-growing annual broadleaf weed recognized by its triangular or goosefoot-shaped leaves and its gray-white, powdery coating on young foliage. The plant produces many small, green, inconspicuous flowers that form dense clusters along the upper stems and branches. Because of its variable leaf shape and mealy texture, it can look slightly different depending on growth stage and environment, but these features make it identifiable in agricultural fields.

This weed reproduces entirely by seed and is highly prolific, with a single plant capable of producing tens of thousands of seeds. Germination is often strongest near the soil surface and can be influenced by light exposure, while seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years, creating a persistent seedbank. Spread occurs mainly through contaminated soil, farm equipment, manure, and crop seed, allowing it to move easily between fields and survive across multiple growing seasons.

Common lambsquarters competes strongly with many crops, especially corn, soybeans, and various vegetables, where it reduces yield and complicates weed management. It is widely distributed across temperate agricultural regions, occurring throughout most of the United States—particularly the northern Corn Belt—across nearly all of Canada, and throughout Europe, where it is native and commonly found in arable land and disturbed soils.