Chenopodium melanocarpum
Encyclopedia
Chenopodium melanocarpum, commonly known as Black Crumbweed, is an annual
herb
that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia
.
, as a variety of C. carinatum, and promoted to species rank by him in 1934. Two forms have been published, although these are only recognised in South Australia
and Western Australia
; they are C. melanocarpum f. melanocarpum and C. melanocarpum f. leucocarpum.
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Description
It grows as a prostrate aromatic annual, with hairy stems that branch from its base. Leaves are oval in shape, about fifteen millimetres long. Flowers occur in dense clusters located in the axils.Taxonomy
It was first published in 1922 by John McConnell BlackJohn McConnell Black
John McConnell Black was a Scottish botanist who emigrated to Australia in 1877 and eventually documented and illustrated thousands of flora in South Australia in the early 20th century. His publications assisted many botanists and scientists in the decades that followed...
, as a variety of C. carinatum, and promoted to species rank by him in 1934. Two forms have been published, although these are only recognised in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
; they are C. melanocarpum f. melanocarpum and C. melanocarpum f. leucocarpum.