Tree Spinach

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tree Spinach
• Tree Spinnach
• magentaspreen
• tree-spinach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chenopodium bengalense
• Atriplex hortensis var. benghalensis
• Chenopodium rubricaule
• Chenopodium hookerianum
• Chenopodium mairei
• Atriplex bengalensis
• Chenopodium formosanum
• Chenopodium elegantissimum
• Chenopodium centrorubrum
• Chenopodium album subsp. amaranthicolor
• Chenopodium album var. centrorubrum
• Chenopodium amaranticolor

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae. Its specific biological identity is defined by the genus Chenopodium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in both Austria and Germany. The distribution extends to Southwestern Europe, specifically within the borders of France. Finally, it can be located in Southeastern Europe in the country of Greece.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chenopodium giganteum is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse environments across a broad altitudinal gradient. This species thrives from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1525 m AMSL, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying topographic pressures and atmospheric conditions. While the specific primary habitat remains undocumented or requires further empirical characterization, its expansive elevational range suggests a high tolerance for different thermal regimes and moisture availability within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Chenopodium giganteum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by its reliance on highly resilient seeds to survive unfavorable environmental conditions or dormant periods. This therophyte status, consistent across both its primary and secondary life form classifications, indicates that the plant avoids seasonal stresses by existing solely as a seed during non-growth periods, rapidly emerging to utilize available resources before completing its reproductive cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Chenopodium giganteum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically manifesting as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors. The plant reaches a significant stature, with its height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chenopodium giganteum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. Morphologically, the plant exhibits specific foliar dimensions, with leaves featuring an ovate form and a maximum length of 14 cm. The leaf width shows significant variability, with a minimum and mean width of 8 cm, extending to a maximum width of 13 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf width max:

13 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chenopodium giganteum is characterized by an abiotic pollination strategy, specifically utilizing wind as the primary pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. The plant produces green flowers, with the flowering period typically commencing in July and extending through November. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with highly consistent dimensions; the seeds possess a mean width of 1.3 mm (ranging from a minimum of 1.3 mm to a maximum of 1.3 mm) and a length that varies between 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm. The seed mass is also remarkably uniform, with a mean mass of 0.0007225 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00071 g to a maximum of 0.00073 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via a hydrochorous syndrome, relying on water movement to distribute them to new environments.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Nov

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Seed length max:

1.5 mm

Seed length min:

1.2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00073 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0007225 g

Seed mass min:

0.00071 g

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chenopodium giganteum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Microbios

Activities

Chenopodium giganteum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral.

Antiviral

1. Microbios

Preparations

Chenopodium giganteum has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf extract.

Leaf extract

1. Microbios