Oxybasis chenopodioides
Low goosefoot
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Oxybasis chenopodioides (Low goosefoot) is a non-native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by saline habitat specialist with single stamen, non-native from South America.
Low goosefoot is a naturalized annual found in northern California coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardo Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and Great Basin in saline soils, drying ponds, and mudflats at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces tiny green flowers in dense axillary clusters approximately 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. Growing with prostrate to erect stems 4 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms a densely branched structure that spreads across disturbed ground. Its leaves are diamond-shaped to triangular, 8 to 35 millimeters long, with entire or occasionally irregular tooth-like edges. The fruit is small, less than 1 millimeter in diameter, with a wall that separates easily from the seed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species - saline habitat specialist with single stamen, non-native from South America
Habitat and range
Habitat: Saline soils, drying ponds, mudflats
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: to Washington, native to South America
Bloom period
Oxybasis chenopodioides blooms Jul-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 Oxybasis chenopodioides native to California?
No. Oxybasis chenopodioides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Oxybasis chenopodioides bloom?
Oxybasis chenopodioides blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Oxybasis chenopodioides belong to?
Oxybasis chenopodioides is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Oxybasis.
What habitat does Oxybasis chenopodioides grow in?
Oxybasis chenopodioides grows in Saline soils, drying ponds, mudflats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.