GOOSEFOOT

Pigweed (Chenopodium album). any of several salt-tolerant plant species belonging to the genus Chenopodium, in the goosefoot family, Chenopodiaceae. They are weedy, rank-smelling plants of wide distribution. Some of the species in the genus have leaves that resemble the foot of a goose. Good-King-Henry (C. bonus-henricus), sometimes called mercury, is a deep-rooted perennial with several stems and edible, spinach-like leaves. Feather geranium, or Jerusalem oak (C. botrys), has many clusters of small flowers and is occasionally cultivated in gardens. Pigweed, or lamb's quarters (q.v.; C. album [see photograph]), is one of the most common weedy species. Other genera in the family Chenopodiaceae include Atriplex (q.v.) and Sarcobatus, the members of the latter of which are commonly known as greasewood (q.v.). The genus Salicornia includes the glassworts, salt-marsh plants that may have colourful stems.