Lamb’s Quarters

Pollen Type: Weed

Cross-Reactivity: Greasewood, Alkali Sea Blite

HS Allergy Extract: Lamb’s Quarters

Family: Chenpodiaceae

Genus/Species: Chenopodium album (L .)

Common Names: Lamb’s Quarters, White Pigweed, White Goosefoot

Distribution: Throughout the United States.

Locations: Gardens, roadsides, trail sides, fields, and vacant lots. 

Pollinating Period: May-October

Pollination Method: Wind-pollinated

Description: Lamb’s Quarters is an annual herb that grows 2’-7’ and is usually much-branched. The spear-shaped leaves are 1”-2” long. The upper leaves have complete (entire) edges; the lower are toothed (dentate). New growth is densely white-mealy, and older growth is more or less mealy throughout. Its tiny flowers are densely clustered in spikes to form an upright or slightly spreading panicle, which is a loose branch that contains the seed heads. Lamb’s Quarters is edible–certain varieties are grown for their leaves and soft stems and eaten as a vegetable. Lamb’s Quarters is cross-reactive with Kochia, Greasewood, and Beet.