I am stuck in the identification of this large plant, that I describe as a small tree or large bush (2m high) and which must be a Chenopodiaceae. The leaves and farinose texture reminds me of C. album, but this can't grow that much. The plant was not really in ripe inflorescence, though I observed tiny, young bud-like spikes in some branch tips.
Well, the photos below explain better from words...
A giant Chenopodiaceae
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A giant Chenopodiaceae
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Conchiolin
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Have you seen Chenopodium album as large as a small tree as I have written in the post??? I too said that looks like C.album, but the large size is off from the described range of C.album, so I excluded it out 
This was a bit taller than myself (=1.74m) and more or less as much as wide. It as found in a dump area of a field, so well nourished!
I'm checking Atriplex halimus, though this is not found near coast area!
This was a bit taller than myself (=1.74m) and more or less as much as wide. It as found in a dump area of a field, so well nourished!
I'm checking Atriplex halimus, though this is not found near coast area!
Last edited by MWP admin on Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
From wikipedia:
It tends to grow upright at first, reaching heights of 30-80 cm, but typically becomes recu-mbent after flowering (due to the weight of the foliage and seeds) unless supported by other plants.
The leaves are alternate and can be very varied in appearance. The first leaves, near the base of the plant, are toothed and roughly diamond-shaped, 3-7 cm long and 3-6 cm broad. The leaves on the upper part of the flowering stems are entire and lanceolate-rhomboid, 1-5 cm long and 0.4-2 cm broad. The leaves are waxy-coated, unwettable and mealy in appearance, with a whitish coat on the underside.
The small flowers are radially symmetrical and grow in small cymes on a dense branched inflorescence 10-40 cm long.
It tends to grow upright at first, reaching heights of 30-80 cm, but typically becomes recu-mbent after flowering (due to the weight of the foliage and seeds) unless supported by other plants.
The leaves are alternate and can be very varied in appearance. The first leaves, near the base of the plant, are toothed and roughly diamond-shaped, 3-7 cm long and 3-6 cm broad. The leaves on the upper part of the flowering stems are entire and lanceolate-rhomboid, 1-5 cm long and 0.4-2 cm broad. The leaves are waxy-coated, unwettable and mealy in appearance, with a whitish coat on the underside.
The small flowers are radially symmetrical and grow in small cymes on a dense branched inflorescence 10-40 cm long.
"...reminds me of C. album, but this can't grow that much."
Never say this of any plant!! I can't help with ID but that certainly is not Atriplex, and if you thought it was C. album then it probably is.
The normal size of any plant as given in books is just a guide and should never be taken as being an absolute, and is thus generally of little value for ID purposes.
Any plant in good conditions will grow larger than "normal".
One thing I noticed in Sicily for example, is that due to better, deeper soil and more water particularly at elevation, many of the wild plants that grow here and are somewhat insignificant, grow there to truly impressive sizes.
No need to go that far however, take a look at your Verbascum
RB
Never say this of any plant!! I can't help with ID but that certainly is not Atriplex, and if you thought it was C. album then it probably is.
The normal size of any plant as given in books is just a guide and should never be taken as being an absolute, and is thus generally of little value for ID purposes.
Any plant in good conditions will grow larger than "normal".
One thing I noticed in Sicily for example, is that due to better, deeper soil and more water particularly at elevation, many of the wild plants that grow here and are somewhat insignificant, grow there to truly impressive sizes.
No need to go that far however, take a look at your Verbascum
RB
I perfectely agree RB. I will check the details of C. album against a specimen and see if everything fits well in terms of morphology. I also take a measuring tape to try and record the height.
There is a certain Chenopodium urbicum which is also big, and I need to check that too, though this is described to have large leaves in the range of 8-14cm (max).
Will keep you informed!
There is a certain Chenopodium urbicum which is also big, and I need to check that too, though this is described to have large leaves in the range of 8-14cm (max).
Will keep you informed!
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Edwin Lanfranco
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