Turf Weeds was developed to provide weed management information and newsearch reports to turfgrass managers.  This site contains information on weed identification, chemical and cultural management of weeds, and current topics relevant to weed management in lawns and professional turf.  Turf Weeds was created  by Dr. Shawn Askew, Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Weed Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
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Plant Description:
Name:common lamb's-quarters
Scientific Name:Chenopodium album
Family:Chenopodiaceae
Type:Broadleaf
Lifecycle:Summer Annual
Habit:An erect plant reaching heights of 2.5m common lamb's-quarters stems are usually bluish green with purple or maroon stripes. Foliage especially younger leaves are covered with a grey powder or mealy substance.
Leaves:Leaves are very irregular ranging in shape from triangle to lance shaped with jagged edges they have been described as being shaped like a goose's foot and are alternate in arrangement.
Leaf Arrangement:Alternate
Characteristics:Leaves have purple blotches, dense flower clusters can be found at the terminal ends of the branches and the mealy texture of the leaves set this plant apart. Common lamb's quarters is host to a large number or viral diseases and can be toxic to pigs and sheep if ingested in large quantities.
Flower Seed Head:Found in dense clusters at the ends of branches and leaf axils they have no petals and are grainy in texture. Flowers are green in color and look more like little balls.
Seed Fruit:Fruit are achenes and are surrounded by a papery sack with a single tiny black disk shaped seed inside. Seed may be viable for up to 40 years and plants can yield as many as 500,000 seeds.
Where Found:Throughout the United States in several habitats including cultivated crops, landscapes, wastelands, and gardens.

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