Chenopodium watsonii A. Nels.

Stems erect or ascending to decumbent, branched from base, 1-4.5 dm, sparsely to densely farinose. Leaves aromatic; petiole 0.4-1.4 cm; blade broadly rounded-triangular to rounded-rhombic or ovate, 1-2.6 × 0.5-2.9 cm, base rounded or subtruncate or broadly cuneate, margins entire or proximal leaves with 1-2 teeth on each side at base, apex rounded to obtuse or acute or apiculate, densely farinose on both surfaces. Inflorescences glomerules in paniculate spikes, 14-24 × 2-3 cm, maturing irregularly; bracts leaflike. Flowers: perianth segments 5, connate into 0.3 mm tube; lobes ovate, keeled, 1-1.4 × 0.9-1.2 mm, apex acute to obtuse, farinose, enclosing fruit at maturity; stamens 5; stigmas 2. Achenes ovoid; pericarp adherent, usually strongly whitened, honeycombed. Seeds subglobose, 0.9-1.3 mm diam., margins obtuse; seed coat whitened, coarsely honeycombed. 2n = 18.

Alta., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Kans., Mont., N.Mex., S.Dak., Utah, Wyo.

Fruiting late summer-fall.

Woods and shrublands of various types, badlands, erosion breaks in prairies, volcanic rocks, pinyon and juniper, sagebrush, disturbed ground, old mine areas, roadsides; 600-3200m.

Chenopodium olidum S. Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 9: 95. 1874, not Curtis 1788