Pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri)

Family: Chenopodiaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Chenopodium berlandieri is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked like spinach. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - ground into a powder and used with cereal flours for making bread or gruel. — Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked like spinach.; The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity.; Seed - ground into a powder and used with cereal flours for making bread or gruel.; The seed should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.

Habitat & North American Range

Open soil. Mud-flats at elevations of 10 - 200 metres in Texas and Mexico. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10)