Paleo Foraging

Common names: Amaranth, pigweed, saltbush, goosefoot, seepweed

Prominent genera: Amaranthus, Atriplex, Chenopodium, Dysphania, Suaeda

These species can be found just about everywhere in North America.

Food

Whole plant – many species in this family used for greens (Ebeling 1986:39). Young leaves and shoots were eaten raw, but the whole plant was commonly cooked by boiling (Ebeling 1986:39). Seeds were also used for bread or gruel (Ebeling 1986:39).

Seeds – an important food supply of the Gosiute (Chamberlin 1911:340).