15. Chenopodium pratericola Rydb. (desert goosefoot)
C. desiccatum A. Nelson var. leptophylloides
(Murr) Wahl
Pl. 354 c, d;
Map 1535
Plants annual,
without an odor. Stems 10–100 cm long, usually erect, unbranched or more
commonly with to several ascending branches above the base, moderately to
densely white-mealy, sometimes slightly reddish-tinged or reddish-striped.
Leaves sessile or more commonly short-petiolate. Leaf blades 1–4 cm long,
mostly 3–7 times as long as wide (1–15 mm wide), linear to lanceolate or
narrowly oblong-elliptic, sharply pointed at the tip, angled at the base, the
largest leaves sometimes with 1 or 2 shallow basal lobes, green to grayish
green, relatively thin and herbaceous in texture, the margins otherwise entire
or inconspicuously wavy to shallowly few-toothed, the upper surface glabrous or
sparsely white-mealy, the undersurface moderately to densely white-mealy.
Venation of 3 main veins, often 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 nearly to the stylar area, usually somewhat spreading at maturity to
expose the apical portion of the fruit, 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 1.0–1.4 mm
wide, depressed-ovoid, the seeds positioned horizontally, the wall thin,
membranous to somewhat papery, somewhat translucent, smooth, easily separated
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 North Dakota and Texas; introduced
sporadically eastward to the eastern seaboard). Sand prairies; also railroads
and open, disturbed areas.
Most recent
authors have followed Crawford (1975) in treating C. pratericola as a
species separate from C. desiccatum and the other members of the
so-called narrow-leaved complex within Chenopodium. See the treatment of
C. pallescens for further discussion. The eastern limits of the native
range of C. pratericola remain controversial. Botanists in some states
outside the native range indicated here treat the species as native, and it is
considered of conservation concern in Ohio, as well as in Ontario.