Chenopodiastrum murale
Nettle leaf goosefoot
(c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Amaranthaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Chenopodiastrum murale (Nettle leaf goosefoot) is a non-native California herb in the Amaranthaceae family, recognized by non-native weed with distinctive shiny, dark green toothed leaves and red sepals.
Chenopodiastrum murale is a non-native plant found throughout the California Floristic Province and uncommonly in the Desert bioregion in disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 2,900 meters. It flowers year-round, growing 15 to 50 (occasionally 80) centimeters tall with dark green, diamond-shaped to ovate leaves that are powdery when young, and diamond-shaped fruits about 1.3 to 1.5 millimeters across with a sharply angled margin.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species - non-native weed with distinctive shiny, dark green toothed leaves and red sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 2900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Mateo, Ventura, Monterey, Imperial, Orange, Fresno, San Bernardino, Kern, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Inyo, Santa Clara, Lake, Tulare, El Dorado, Sonoma, Yolo, San Joaquin, Butte, Sutter, Stanislaus, Solano, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Marin, Humboldt, Alameda, Merced, Napa, Calaveras, Amador, Plumas, Madera, Sacramento, Modoc, Santa Cruz
Outside California: to Canada, eastern United States, northern Mexico; native to Europe
Bloom period
Chenopodiastrum murale blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Chenopodiastrum: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Chenopodiastrum is smooth to slightly hairy without mealy texture.; vs Atriplex: Chenopodium has perfect flowers; Atriplex has separate male/female flowers with paired bracts on fruits.; vs Blitum: Chenopodium has dry fruits; Blitum has fleshy, berry-like fruiting calyxes.; vs Amaranthus: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Amaranthus is smooth with dense bristly flower spikes.; vs Rumex: Chenopodium has 5-parted flowers in clusters; Rumex has 6-parted flowers in whorls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chenopodiastrum murale native to California?
No. Chenopodiastrum murale is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Chenopodiastrum murale bloom?
Chenopodiastrum murale blooms All year.
Where in California does Chenopodiastrum murale grow?
Chenopodiastrum murale occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Mateo, Ventura, Monterey, Imperial and other counties, at elevations of < 2900 m.
What plant family does Chenopodiastrum murale belong to?
Chenopodiastrum murale is in the Amaranthaceae family, genus Chenopodiastrum.
What habitat does Chenopodiastrum murale grow in?
Chenopodiastrum murale grows in Common. Disturbed areas, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.