18. Chenopodium simplex (Torr.) Raf. (maple-leaved goosefoot)
C.
gigantospermum Aellen
Pl. 355 l, m;
Map 1538
Plants annual,
without an odor. Stems 30–150 cm long, erect or ascending, several-branched
above the base, glabrous or sparsely white-mealy, green. Leaves short- to
long-petiolate. Leaf blades 3–15 cm long (the largest 7–18 cm), mostly 1.2–2.5
times as long as wide (2–9 cm wide), ovate to broadly ovate or
triangular-ovate, sharply pointed at the tip, mostly rounded, truncate, or
shallowly cordate at the base, green, relatively thin and herbaceous in
texture, the margins with relatively few broad, coarse teeth or (in the
uppermost leaves) entire to slightly wavy, the surfaces glabrous or less
commonly sparsely white-mealy. Venation noticeably branched, with mostly 3 or 5
main veins. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, consisting of short spikes
with small clusters of flowers, these mostly grouped into relatively large,
bractless panicles. Flowers not all maturing at the same time. Calyx 5-lobed to
below the midpoint, extending past the widest part of the fruit but not
reaching the stylar area, leaving much of the portion of the fruit above the
rim exposed at maturity, the lobes 0.7–1.0 mm long, lanceolate to ovate,
rounded or bluntly pointed at the tip, flat to slightly rounded or narrowly and
shallowly keeled dorsally, glabrous or sparsely white-mealy. Stamens 5. Stigmas
2. Fruits 1.5–2.5 mm wide, depressed-ovoid, the seeds positioned horizontally,
the wall thin but papery, and somewhat yellowish, smooth, usually easily
separated from the seed. Seeds black, shiny, smooth, bluntly angled along the
rim. 2n=36. June–October.
Scattered nearly
throughout the state, but absent or uncommon in portions of the southeastern
quarter (U.S., Canada). Bases and ledges of bluffs, bottomland forests, mesic
upland forests in ravines, and edges of loess hill prairies; also old fields,
fencerows, roadsides, railroads, and shaded, disturbed areas.
The prevalence
of this species along bluff bases at or near prehistoric shelter sites has
given rise to speculation that the relatively large fruits were harvested for
food by aboriginal midwesterners. The species apparently is part of a
circumboreal complex, with the Old World component referred to as C.
hybridum L. (Bassett and Crompton, 1982; McGregor, 1986a).