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Chenopodium album - L.
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| Common Name
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Fat Hen
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| Family
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Chenopodiaceae
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| Synonyms
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C. reticulatum.
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| Known Hazards
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The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].
The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food, but these plants are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plant will reduce its content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].
There is also a report that very large quantities of the leaves have caused photosensitivity in some people[74]. Only the raw leaves can cause problems, and then only if large quantities are consumed[172].
A further report says that if the plant is grown in soils that contain too much nitrates then the plant can concentrate these substances in the leaves. Nitrates have been shown to cause many health problems including stomach cancers and blue-baby syndrome.
In nitrogen-rich soils, the plants can also concentrate hydrogen cyanide[218]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
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| Habitats
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A common weed of cultivated ground, especially on rich soils and old manure heaps[4, 17]. It is often one of the first weeds to appear on newly cultivated soils[268].
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| Range
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Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 71° N,. N. and S. Africa, Asia, Australia and N. America
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Edibility Rating 
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| Medicinal Rating
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| | Care
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| Physical Characteristics
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ANNUAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to October, and the seeds ripen from Aug to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.It requires moist soil.
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chenopodium_album_Sturm27.jpg |
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chenopodium_album_ENBLA03.jpg |
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| Habitats
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Cultivated Beds;
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| Edible Uses
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Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Seed.
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 20, 54, 62, 102]. A very acceptable spinach substitute[183], the taste is a little bland but this can be improved by adding a few stronger-flavoured leaves[9]. One report says that, when eaten with beans, the leaves will act as a carminative to prevent wind and bloating[257]. The leaves are best not eaten raw, see the notes above on toxicity[74]. The leaves are generally very nutritious but very large quantities can disturb the nervous system and cause gastric pain[74]. The leaves contain about 3.9% protein, 0.76% fat, 8.93% carbohydrate, 3% ash[179]. A zero moisture basis analysis is also available[218].
Edible seed - dried and ground into a meal and eaten raw or baked into a bread[[2, 4, 12, 14, 54, 102, 183]. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads[183]. The seed is very fiddly to harvest and use due to its small size[9]. Although it is rather small, we have found the seed very easy to harvest and simple enough to utilize[K]. The seed should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before being used in order to remove any saponins. The seed contains about 49% carbohydrate, 16% protein, 7% ash, 5.88% ash[114, 179].
Young inflorescences - cooked[183]. A tasty broccoli substitute[K].
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| Composition
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Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food. |
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Leaves (Dry weight) |
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- 260 Calories per 100g
- Water : 0%
- Protein: 24g; Fat: 5g; Carbohydrate: 45g; Fibre: 15g; Ash: 28g;
- Minerals - Calcium: 2300mg; Phosphorus: 500mg; Iron: 25mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
- Vitamins - A: 31583mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.67mg; Riboflavin (B2): 1.58mg; Niacin: 2.5mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
- Reference: [ 218]
- Notes: The figures are the median of a range given in the report.
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| Medicinal Uses
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Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic; Antiphlogistic; Antirheumatic; Contraceptive; Laxative; Odontalgic.
Fat hen is not employed in herbal medicine, though it does have some gentle medicinal properties and is a very nutritious and healthy addition to the diet[268].
The leaves are anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, mildly laxative, odontalgic[172, 222, 243, 268]. An infusion is taken in the treatment of rheumatism[257]. The leaves are applied as a wash or poultice to bug bites, sunstroke, rheumatic joints and swollen feet, whilst a decoction is used for carious teeth[218].
The seeds are chewed in the treatment of urinary problems and are considered useful for relieving the discharge of semen through the urine[272].
The juice of the stems is applied to freckles and sunburn[218].
The juice of the root is used in the treatment of bloody dysentery[272].
Food that comprises 25.5% of the powdered herb may suppress the oestrus cycle[218].
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| Other Uses
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Dye; Soap.
A green dye is obtained from the young shoots[99].
The crushed fresh roots are a mild soap substitute[106].
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| Cultivation details
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An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[1, 200]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[200]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 8.3.
In moderate amounts this plant is a good companion for potatoes, corn and cucurbits[20, 54].
The plant responds directly to the magnesium content of the soil so it can be used to indicate the presence of that element[114].
Fat hen is occasionally cultivated as a food crop[46], there is at least one named variety[183]. Called 'Magenta' in reference to the colour of its leaves, it is considered by some people to be the best tasting of all potherbs[183].
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| Propagation
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Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing. It is usually unnecessary to sow the seed since the plant is a common garden weed and usually self-sows freely in most soils.
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| Links / References
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[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
| [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
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| Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
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| [2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
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| Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
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| [4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
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| Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
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| [5]Mabey. R. Food for Free.
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| Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.
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| [9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
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| Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
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| [12]Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder.
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| A handy pocket guide.
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| [14]Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs.
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| A good herbal.
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| [17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
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| A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
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| [20]Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.
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| Fairly good.
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| [46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
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| An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
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| [54]Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds.
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| Interesting reading.
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| [62]Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants.
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| Very readable.
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| [74]Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR.
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| An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.
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| [99]Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology.
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| Excellent and readable guide.
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| [102]Kavasch. B. Native Harvests.
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| Another guide to the wild foods of America.
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| [106]Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants.
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| Interesting reading but short on detail.
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| [114]Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
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| It is surprising how many of these plants can be grown in Britain. A very readable book on the useful plants of Iraq.
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| [172]Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
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| A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
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| [179]Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao.
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| A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.
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| [183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
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| Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
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| [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
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| Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
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| [218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China
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| Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
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| [222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
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| A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
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| [243] Medicinal Plants of Nepal
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| Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.
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| [257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany
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| Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
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| [268]Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism
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| Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.
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| [272]Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal
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| Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
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| Subject : Chenopodium album |
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