Chenopodium missouriense
Missouri lambsquarters
(c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patrick Hacker · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Chenopodium missouriense (Missouri lambsquarters) is a non-native California annual in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by largest species in genus, curved/drooping inflorescence branches, large leaves.
Missouri lambsquarters is a naturalized annual found in northern Sierra Nevada foothills, southern Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, southern California coastal areas, and Peninsular Ranges in open, generally disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from September to October, this plant produces small green-white flowers in dense axillary and terminal spikes. Growing with upright stems 40 to 200 centimeters tall, it has a branching habit with curved or pendulous inflorescence branches. Its distinctive leaves are ovate to triangular-diamond shaped, 1.5 to 8 centimeters long, with irregularly wavy-dentate edges and a powdery appearance. The fruit is 1 to 1.5 millimeters in diameter with a thick, shining brown-black wall and a horizontal black seed with a netted seed coat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species - largest species in genus, curved/drooping inflorescence branches, large leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, generally disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: native to central and eastern United States
Bloom period
Chenopodium missouriense blooms Sep-Oct.
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 Chenopodium missouriense native to California?
No. Chenopodium missouriense is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Chenopodium missouriense bloom?
Chenopodium missouriense blooms Sep-Oct.
What plant family does Chenopodium missouriense belong to?
Chenopodium missouriense is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Chenopodium.
What habitat does Chenopodium missouriense grow in?
Chenopodium missouriense grows in Open, generally disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.