Practical
Plants

Cycloloma atriplicifolium

Winged Pigweed

an annual member of the Cycloloma genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - cooked. It is very small but was used as a staple food by several native North American Indian tribes[5]. It can be ground into a powder and mixed with wheat or other cereals and used in making bread etc. It can also be used as a gruel[8][1][2][5].

Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant has been used in the treatment of fevers, rheumatism and headaches[3][5].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A pink dye is obtained from the seed[3][5].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Central and Western N. America - northwards to Manitoba and Quebec. Naturalized in S. Europe[7].
Habitat
Sandy soils in deserts[3]. Along the sides of streams and on banks[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information on this plant but suggest sowing the seed in situ in April or May.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have almost no information on this species but assume it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain. It probably requires a well-drained fairly light soil in a sunny position[K].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  3. Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

  7. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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