British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry
LEAVES Green, matt-looking due to a mealy coating; varying from oval to diamond-shaped. STATUS Common. Fig-leaved Goosefoot C. ficifolium is similar but with fig-like leaves. The flowers are greenish (July–Oct). Local on clay in central and S England.
Red Goosefoot
Fig-leaved Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Flowers
Red Goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHT to 60cm
Variable upright annual, of manure-enriched soils. Stems often turn red in old plants. FLOWERS Small, numerous, in upright, leafy spikes. FRUITS Rounded, enclosed by 2–4 sepals (July–Oct). LEAVES Shiny, diamond-shaped, toothed. STATUS Common only in S England.
Many-seeded Goosefoot
Many-seeded Goosefoot
Flowers
Many-seeded Goosefoot Chenopodium polyspermum (Chenopodiaceae)
Spreading or upright annual stems square and usually reddish. Favours light, disturbed soils. FLOWERS Small, numerous, in long spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Partly enclosed by sepals. LEAVES Oval, untoothed, decreasing in size up stem. STATUS Widespread in England.
Good-King-Henry
Good-King-Henry
Flowers
Good-King-Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus (Chenopodiaceae)
Upright introduced perennial; stems often streaked red. Favours disturbed arable land and waste ground. FLOWERS Numerous, in narrow, leafless spikes (May–Aug). FRUITS Ringed by sepals at the base. LEAVES Mealy when young but dark green with age; triangular in outline. STATUS Local.
Frosted Orache
Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata (Chenopodiaceae)
Distinctive silvery-grey plant that is characteristic of sandy beaches. Stems usually flushed with pink. FLOWERS Whitish, in clusters (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, toothed. LEAVES Fleshy, mealy, toothed, diamond-shaped. STATUS Widespread, locally common but exclusively coastal.
Goosefoot Family Chenopodiaceae
Babington’s Orache
Babington’s Orache Atriplex glabriscula
A spreading, mealy annual. Restricted to stabilised shingle and bare, coastal ground. Stems usually reddish; whole plant often turns red in autumn. FLOWERS In leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, maturing silvery white. LEAVES Triangular or diamond-shaped. STATUS Locally common.
Common Orache
Common Orache
Flowers
Common Orache Atriplex patula HEIGHT to 60cm
Variable, branched annual; sometimes upright but often prostrate. Found on bare ground. FLOWERS Small, greenish, in leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, toothless, lacking warts. LEAVES Toothed; upper ones lanceolate; lower ones triangular. STATUS Widespread and common.
Spear-leaved Orache
Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata HEIGHT to 70cm
Upright annual; stems often tinged red. Favours waste and bare ground near the sea. FLOWERS In rather short spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Triangular; surrounded by green bracts. LEAVES Triangular in outline; toothed; basal, largest teeth are at right angles to the stalk. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Grass-leaved Orache
Grass-leaved Orache Atriplex littoralis