Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Chenopodium rubrum

Family

Amaranthaceae

Flowering season

August to October

English distribution

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

Northwest and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Red Goosefoot

Habitat

It grows on waste ground, bare farm land such as gateways,

tracks and manure heaps, in organic mud by ponds and ditches,

and in drier saltmarshes and dune slacks.

It is on the increase.

Description

Red Goosefoot is a native, annual, usually reddish, prostrate or

erect herb, growing up to 80cm.

The small petalless flowers are in dense spikes.

Stamens and styles (not shown here) are in the same flower.

The 5 perianth segments (sepals) are green, turning deep red,

and fused to half way over the seeds.

The seeds are dark red-brown.

Leaves are up to 5cm, roughly diamond-shaped and variously

toothed.

Stems are ridged and green to red.