7. Chenopodium desiccatum A. Nelson

Pl. 354 a, b; Map 1527

Plants annual, without an odor. Stems 10–50 cm long, prostrate to loosely ascending, several- to much-branched from the base, moderately to densely white-mealy, sometimes slightly reddish-tinged or reddish-striped. Leaves sessile or more commonly short-petiolate. Leaf blades 1–3(–4) cm long, mostly 3–8 times as long as wide (2–10 mm wide), linear to oblong-lanceolate or narrowly oblong-elliptic, sharply pointed at the tip, angled at the base, unlobed, grayish green, relatively thick and sometimes slightly fleshy in texture, the margins entire, moderately to densely mealy on both surfaces. Venation of 3 main veins, usually with no other branching apparent. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, consisting of short spikes with small clusters of flowers, the terminal spikes usually grouped into small panicles. Flowers not all maturing at the same time. Calyx 5-lobed nearly to the base, extending to the stylar area, not or only slightly spreading at maturity, covering the entire fruit except sometimes for a minute area surrounding the style, the lobes 0.7–1.0 mm long, broadly lanceolate to ovate, bluntly pointed at the tip, strongly keeled dorsally, moderately to densely white-mealy. Stamens (4)5. Stigmas 2. Fruits 0.9–1.1 mm wide, depressed-ovoid, the seeds positioned horizontally, the wall thin, membranous to somewhat papery, somewhat translucent, smooth, difficult to separate from the seed. Seeds black, shiny, finely pebbled or minutely roughened, bluntly angled along the rim. 2n=18. July–November.

Introduced, uncommon and widely scattered in eastern and western Missouri (native of the western U.S. and adjacent Canada east to Wyoming and New Mexico; introduced sporadically eastward). Sand prairies and banks of rivers; also fallow fields, gardens, railroads, and open, disturbed areas.