Chenopodium polyspermum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European goosefoot
• many-seed goosefoot
• Many-seeded Goosefoot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vulvaria polysperma
• Atriplex polysperma
• Chenopodium polyspermum subsp. acutifolium
• Lipandra polysperma var. acutifolia
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. acutifolium
• Chenopodium polyspermum subsp. cymosum
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. acutifolium
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. acutifolium
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. cymosum
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. controversans
• Chenopodium acutifolium var. dentatum
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. bracteolosum
• Chenopodium polyspermum var. rubrum
• Chenopodium arrectum
• Chenopodium polispermum
• Chenopodium polyspermum
• Chenopodium marginatum
• Anserina betifolia
• Oligandra atriplicoides
• Chenopodium polyspermum f. purpurascens
• Chenopodium bisaeriale
• Lipandra atriplicoides
• Gandriloa atriplicoides
• Blitum polyspermum

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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Lipandra, specifically as the species Lipandra polysperma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Lipandra polysperma, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its range also extends northward to include the territories of Finland and Norway. Additionally, the species is present within the islands of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical reach encompasses the landscape of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lipandra polysperma is characterized by its preference for diverse riparian and littoral environments, specifically thriving in rivers, sandy substrates, shores, and stony places. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, establishing itself within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 335 m AMSL to a maximum of 1280 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1280 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

335 m AMSL

Habitat :

rivers, sand, shores, stony places

Life history

The life history of Lipandra polysperma is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable periods through highly resistant seeds rather than maintaining above-ground structures. This life form is further defined by its deciduous nature, as the plant sheds its vegetative parts at the end of its cycle. Structurally, its classification as a therophyte dictates its growth pattern, focusing all biological resources on rapid maturation and reproduction before the onset of seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lipandra polysperma is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species typically exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, rather than acting as a liana or vine, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its physical stature, the plant displays a variable height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.688 m. Regarding its habitat and ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.688 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lipandra polysperma is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in typical environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on autotrophic mechanisms and soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its leaves possess a mean surface area of 12.11068 cm², a structural dimension that contributes to its overall light interception capabilities. This leaf architecture is further defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 359.97 cm²/g, reflecting a specific relationship between its leaf mass and surface area that influences its resource acquisition strategies and leaf thickness.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

12.11068 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

359.97 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lipandra polysperma is characterized by a strictly sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period occurs during the warmer months, beginning in July and concluding in September. The pollination process is driven by abiotic mechanisms, specifically utilizing wind as the primary pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00028275 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.000211 g to a maximum of 0.00039 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.26 mm³. These seeds are dispersed via a hydrochorous syndrome, relying on water to transport them to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00039 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00028275 g

Seed mass min:

0.000211 g

Seed volume max:

0.26 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lipandra polysperma has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABA.

ABA

1. The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society