Family: Amaranthaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:219. 1753
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Chenopodium
Vegetable: True
Observations: Temp. to Indian Subcontinent
Description
Fat-hen, scientifically known as Chenopodium album, is a versatile and widespread plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. This plant has a notable history, being first described in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum.”
Native to regions with temperate climates and now widespread, including the Indian Subcontinent, Fat-hen is an adaptable annual herb. It typically thrives in disturbed soils, and you may often find it in agricultural fields, gardens, and along roadsides. Its resilient nature and ability to grow in a variety of conditions make it a common sight in many landscapes.
Fat-hen is characterized by its variable appearance, often growing up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) tall. The leaves of this plant are diamond-shaped or triangular, with a powdery or scurfy texture that can sometimes give them a grayish-green hue. During the flowering season, it produces dense clusters of small, greenish flowers that lack petals, relying instead on their clusters’ structure to facilitate pollination.
Despite being a common weed, Fat-hen has notable utility. Historically, it has been used as a source of food and fodder. The young shoots and leaves are edible and can be consumed similarly to spinach, offering a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, the seeds can be harvested and used as a pseudo-cereal, much like quinoa, which is a close relative within the same family.
Its presence is also significant in traditional medicine. Various cultures have utilized different parts of the plant to treat a variety of ailments due to its purported medicinal properties. However, it is essential to note that proper identification and preparation are crucial, as improper use can lead to adverse effects.
Overall, Fat-hen, or Chenopodium album, stands out not only for its ubiquity and resilience but also for its historical and practical contributions to agriculture, nutrition, and traditional medicine.
Common Names
Deu: borbas-gänsefuß, weisser gaensefuss, weißer gänsefuß
Eng: common lambsquarters, fat-hen, giant fat-hen, lamb’s-quarters, lambs quarters, lambsquarters, lambsquarters goosefoot, pigweed, white goosefoot, common lamb’s-quarters, fat hen, white pigweed, goose-foot, lamb’s quarters, pig weed
Dan: hvidmelet gåsefod
Por: anserina-branca, ançarinha-branca, dançarina-branca, erva-de-são-joão, erva-formigueira-branca, falsa-erva-de-santa-maria, fedegosa, formigueira-branca
Fra: ansérine blanche, chénopode blanc, chou gras, poulette grasse
Spa: armuelle, cenizo blanco
Nor: hvid melde
Swe: jauhosavikka, svinmålla, vitmålla
Fin: jauhosavikka
Nob: meldestokk
Nno: meldestokk
Nld: melganzenvoet
Ces: merlík stope
Ara: rukab al-gamal, shawlah, weraq
Sme: spiinnelasta, jáffolasta
Cym: blodau’r domen, gwydd-droed bwytadwy, gwydd-droed gwyn, gwydd-droed gwynaidd, tafod yr oen, troed yr wydd, troed yr wydd gwynaidd, troed-yr-ŵydd gwyn
En: Fat-hen, Giant fat-hen, White goosefoot, Lamb’s-quarters, Lambsquarters, Common lambsquarters, Lambs quarters, Lambsquarters goosefoot, Pigweed, Common lamb’s-quarters, Fat Hen, Goose-foot, Lamb’s quarters, Pig weed, White pigweed, Baconweed, Dirtweed, Frost Blite, Bathua, Lamb’s quarter, Missouri goosefoot, Stevens’ lambsquarters, Wild Spinach, Zschack’s goosefoot, Zschacke’s Goosefoot, Goosefoot
Ar: Rukab al-gamal, Weraq, Shawlah, رقاب الجمل (رُقاب الجَمَل), فس الكلب ( الكلاب)
Ca: Blet blanc
Zh: Li
Cs: Merlík stope, Merlík bílý
Da: Hvidmelet gåsefod
Nl: Melganzenvoet, Meelganzevoet, Witte Ganzevoet
Fi: Jauhosavikka
Fr: Ansérine blanche, Chénopode blanc, Chou gras, Poulette grasse, Drageline, Poule-grasse, Senousse
De: Weißer Gänsefuß, Borbas-Gänsefuß, Weisser Gaensefuss, Weisser Gänsefuss
He: כף-אווז לבנה
It: Farinello comune
Ja: Yamā-akaza, Iwa-akaza
Se: Spiinnelasta, Jáffolasta
No: Hvid melde
Nb: Meldestokk
Nn: Meldestokk
Pt: Anserina-branca, Ançarinha-branca, Dançarina-branca, Erva-de-são-joão, Erva-formigueira-branca, Falsa-erva-de-santa-maria, Fedegosa, Formigueira-branca
Pt-br: Ançarinha-branca, Erva-formigueira-branca, Falsa-erva-de-Santa-Maria
Sk: Mrlík biely
Es: Armuelle, Cenizo blanco, Cenizo
Sv: Svinmålla, Jauhosavikka, Vitmålla
Cy: Blodau’r Domen, Gwydd-Droed Bwytadwy, Gwydd-Droed Gwyn, Gwydd-Droed Gwynaidd, Tafod yr Oen, Troed yr Wydd, Troed yr Wydd Gwynaidd, Troed-yr-Ŵydd Gwyn
Synonyms
- Chenopodium viride var. album ((L.) Hartm.)
- Botrys albus ((L.) Nieuwl.)
- Chenopodium viride var. paniculatum (Hartm.)
- Chenopodium album var. commune (Moq.)
- Chenopodium album subsp. ovatum (Aellen)
- Chenopodium album subsp. diversifolium (Aellen)
- Chenopodium album subsp. fallax (Aellen)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Alabama (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Amur (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Assam (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Chita (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Florida (native)
- France (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Gulf States (native)
- Hainan (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Illinois (native)
- India (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Inner Mongolia (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Italy (native)
- Japan (native)
- Kamchatka (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Korea (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Kuril Is. (native)
- Kuwait (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Libya (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Madeira (native)
- Magadan (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Ogasawara-shoto (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oman (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Primorye (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sakhalin (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alaska (introduced)
- Alberta (introduced)
- Antipodean Is. (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Botswana (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Chatham Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile North (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Føroyar (introduced)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Iceland (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Kermadec Is. (introduced)
- KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
- Labrador (introduced)
- Lesotho (introduced)
- Manitoba (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Mauritania (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Mozambique (introduced)
- Namibia (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- Norfolk Is. (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Northern Territory (introduced)
- Northwest Territorie (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Nunavut (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Panamá (introduced)
- Paraguay (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Saskatchewan (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- South Dakota (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Swaziland (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Western Australia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
- Yukon (introduced)
- Zambia (introduced)
- Zimbabwe (introduced)
Additional Images
Fruit
Taken Aug 14, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 14, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2019 by Bart Batsleer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 10, 2020 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jul 26, 2019 by Johannes Hanhart (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 11, 2018 by Jean Burger (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2019 by Pietro Veneziano (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 31, 2019 by Cedric Gallant (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 23, 2018 by Wolfgang Jauch (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 17, 2021 by cccsberg (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 13, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 13, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2018 by Rodrigo Alfredo Sierpe Bustamante (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 10, 2017 by Laurent V. (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Sep 7, 2020 by Andreas Grindler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 24, 2022 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 29, 2020 by Fernandez Cusachs Marc (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2019 by Yves MORENO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2018 by Seba Rth (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Sep 18, 2020 by Roland de Boissier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 30, 2019 by S. S. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2020 by orlando pires (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jan 20, 2022 by Nebil Temsamani (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Toby Austin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 28, 2019 by sasha lev (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 19, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Ans GORTER (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3083838)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:55993-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Chenopodium album L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 6.5
Ph minimum: 5.5
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 7