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Fields, Forests & Wetlands Foods of Eastern North America
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Lamb's Quarters Grain
Season: Late Summer & Early Fall
Urban, Rural or Both: Both
For the edible greens of Lamb's Quarters, see the Lamb's Quarters Greens page.
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album) seeds can be gathered basically the same way as described in the Amaranth seed section. They are easier overall, as there aren't those itchy hairs that there are with Amaranth. The Lamb's Quarters is a close relative of the Quinoa listed below, and the seeds seem quite similar in taste, the big difference is that Lamb's Quarters seeds are tan to black, while the Quinoa are tan color. Cook and use just like Quinoa. A seedhead picture of the Lamb's Quarters is included below.
Cooking Lamb's Quarters or Quinoa grain like rice is fairly easy. Water is 2:1 ratio of the grain. So, for instance, put one cup of water in a pot, add 1/2 cup of grain, cover, bring to a boil, turn down a simmer for about 20 minutes on low. After that use just like rice. It can be added to soups, added to bread by grinding in a small coffee mill or using the whole grain, or added whole to baked meals like casseroles. You don't have to pre-cook it. Make sure it is well rinsed before using.
Growing this plant in your home garden:
For detailed growing instructions, go to my Wild Foods Home Garden website Lamb's Quarters page.
Description:
- Plant Size: As tall as 3 meters (10 feet), but usually much smaller 20-100cm (8 to 40 inches) is the most common mature size I see in Southwestern Ontario
- Duration: Annual
- Leaf Shape: Varied: lower leaves on mature plants & upper leaves on young plants are Rhomboid (diamond shaped) while upper leaves on mature plants are Lanceolate to Elliptical
- Leaf Phyllotaxis (Leaf Arrangement) on branch: Alternate
- Leaf Size: Quite varied: 1-7 cm (inches) long and 0.5-6 cm (inches) wide.
- Leaf Margin: Diamond shaped leaves are toothed, upper leaf margins on mature plants are Entire (no sawtooth on edges)
- Leaf Notes: There is a white powder looking on the green leaves that is more distinct on the lower side of the leaf, but is on the upper side as well, and quite apparent on leaves of older plants on the Lanceolate and Elliptical shaped leaves (see included pictures in the Lamb's Quarters entry in the Leaves and Greens section here).
- Flowers: tiny 5 pointed flowers with double yellow tips
- Fruit: very small (1.5 mm diameter) tan-brown to black seeds that look like a dark color version of Quinoa grain, which is in fact a very close relative.
- Habitat: Open areas (not in shaded woods), disturbed lands, waste areas, ditches, fields, grasslands.
- Recipe search on the web here (Google search) and here (Bing search).
- Pictures on the web here (Google images) and here (Bing images).
- USDA distribution map and plant profile here.
- The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) distribution map here. BONAP map color key here.
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album) range. Distribution map courtesy of U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Natural Resources Service) and used in accordance with their policies.
The seed head of the Lamb's Quarters in late August with an amazing crop of Yellow Bristly Foxtail in behind. It is not ripe yet for harvesting the grain. The plant will lose its green color when ready, and it is easy to test by just shaking the seed head over some paper or a bucket. If it is ready some grain will fall out.
Lamb's Quarters can take many shapes and sizes. The one above is an older plant. Notice how the leaves lose their Goose Foot shape, and become smooth edged (Entire) and Lanceolate and Elliptical shaped . Note the color of the stem. This one was starting to produce seedheads.
A very young Lamb's Quarters that grew in the open, and is low and wide. Note the stem is green - an indication it is young. This plant is early in the season, long before producing the seedhead.
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