C. álbum, L. (Lamb's-quarters. Pigweed.) Erect (1–4° high), more or less mealy; leaves varying from rhombic-ovate to lanceolate or the uppermost even linear, acute, all or only the lower more or less angulate-toothed; clusters spiked-panicled, mostly dense; calyx (¾´´ wide in fruit) with strongly carinate lobes, nearly or quite covering the seed.—Introduced everywhere. (Nat. from Eu.)—Var. víride, Moq., more common eastward, is less mealy and with less dense inflorescence.
C. úrbicum, L. Rather pale or dull green, nearly destitute of mealiness, with erect branches (1–3° high); leaves triangular, acute, coarsely and sharply many-toothed; spikes erect, crowded in a long and narrow racemose panicle; calyx-lobes not keeled; seed with rounded margins.—Apparently throughout our range. (Nat. from Eu.)
C. muràle, L. Resembles the preceding, but less erect, loosely branched (1–2° high); leaves rhomboid-ovate, acute, coarsely and sharply unequally toothed, thin, bright green; spikes or racemes diverging, somewhat corymbed; calyx-lobes scarcely keeled; seed sharp-edged.—From N. Eng. to Mich, and Mo. (Adv. from Eu.)
3. C. hýbridum, L. (Maple-leaved Goosefoot.) Bright green throughout; stem widely much branched (2–4° high); leaves thin (2–6´ long), somewhat triangular and heart shaped, taper-pointed, sinuate-angled, the angles extending into a few large and pointed teeth; racemes diffusely and loosely panicled, leafless; calyx not fully covering the fruit, its lobes keeled.—Indigenous from western N. Y. and Ky., westward across the continent; introduced eastward.
§ 2. Annual or perennial herbs, somewhat mealy, not glandular-pubescent; fruiting calyx dry; seed large, subglobose, vertical, exserted; embryo a complete ring.
C. glaùcum, L. (Oak-leaved Goosefoot.) Low (5–12´ high), spreading, glaucous-mealy; leaves sinuately pinnatifid-toothed, oblong, obtuse, pale green above; clusters in axillary spikes, small; seed sharp-edged.—Throughout our range and westward. (Nat. from Eu.)
C. Bonus-Henrìcus, L. (Good-King-Henry.) Stout, erect (1–2° high), mostly simple; leaves broadly triangular-hastate (2–3´ long), obtuse or acute, subsinuate or entire; flowers somewhat densely paniculately spiked; seed with obtuse edges. (Blitum Bonus-Henricus, Reichenb.)—Sparingly introduced. (Adv. from Eu.)
§ 3. Annual, glabrous; calyx more or less fleshy in fruit and often colored, enclosing the utricle; seed mostly vertical; embryo a complete ring; flowers in crowded clusters, axillary or in spikes.
4. C. rùbrum, L. (Coast Blite.) Stem angled, much branched; leaves thickish, triangular-lanceolate, tapering below into a wedge-shaped base and above into a slender point, sparingly and coarsely toothed, the upper linear-lanceolate; clusters scattered in axillary leafy spikes; calyx-lobes 2–4, rather fleshy; stamens 1–2; seed shining, the margin acute. (Blitum maritimum, Nutt.)—Sea-coast of Northern States, and in saline places to Minn. (Eu.)
5. C. capitàtum, Watson. (Strawberry Blite.) Stem ascending, branching; leaves triangular and somewhat halberd-shaped, sinuate-toothed; clusters simple (large), interruptedly spiked, the upper leafless; stamens 1–5; calyx berry-like in fruit; seed ovoid, flattish, smooth, with a very narrow margin. (Blitum capitatum, L.)—Dry rich ground, along the Great Lakes, northward and westward. The calyx becomes pulpy and bright red in fruit, when the large clusters look like strawberries. (Eu.)