Short Description
The red goosefoot can grow up to one metre high.
The leaves are rombic to triangular. The leaf margin is deeply toothed. They sit singly and alternately on the stem. Often parts of them are overlaid with red.
The erect or lying stem is highly branched. It is often overrun with red and indistinctly striped.
The inconspicuous flowers sit in clusters as an elongated inflorescence at the top of the stem. They are often red at fruiting time.
The lenticular fruits are red-brown to red-black. They have a smooth skin.
Features
Red goosefoot
Oxybasis rubra
partly red leaves, stems and flowers
deeply toothed leaf margins
In the city
The red goosefoot grows on moist, nutrient-rich soils. In the city, it grows mainly on rubble tips and roadsides. Due to its high nitrogen tolerance, it can also be found around dung heaps or open cesspits. It is considered an indicator plant for excessive nitrogen content in the soil.
Fun Facts
The leaves can be used raw or cooked like spinach. However, they should only be eaten raw in small quantities.
The flowering period is from July to September.
It is an annual plant. This means the plant dies after the seeds have ripened.
Pollination is by wind or self-pollination.
The seeds are spread by the wind.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
It is widespread in the temperate latitudes of Europe, North America and Asia.
The pollen is highly allergenic and triggers hay fever.
Sources
Blätter, Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxybasis_rubra_kz08.jpg
Blütenstand, Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rode_ganzenvoet_(Chenopodium_rubrum)_bloeiwijze.jpg
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Blütenstand, Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chenopodium_rubrum_eF.jpg
Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.
Page „Roter Gänsefuß“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 25.09.2017, 19:49 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roter_G%C3%A4nsefu%C3%9F&oldid=169427686 (Accessed: 09.01.2018).