Harvesting and Preserving Lambs Quarters - Making Bread With Plants

Common lambsquarters, a broadleaf plant, is among the most common summer annuals. It is found throughout California up to an elevation of 5900 feet (1800 m) and inhabits agricultural land and other disturbed areas. Generally common lambsquarters is considered edible. However under certain conditions, plant production of oxalates can increase to levels toxic to livestock when large amounts of leaves are consumed in a short time period. Common lambsquarter is also susceptible to many viruses that affect several crops and ornamentals. These include beet curly top; potato viruses X, M, and S; ringspot viruses of tomato, pepper, potato, Prunus species, and mulberry; and mosaic viruses of alfalfa, bean, beet, barley, lettuce, cucumber, squash, eggplant, hops, primula, watermelon, and wisteria. Many species of small mammals and birds consume the seeds.