Scientific name Chenopodium capitatum Rank Species | Higher classification Chenopodium | |
 | ||
Similar Chenopodium, Blitum virgatum, Blitum, Blitum bonus‑henricus, Chenopodium giganteum | ||
Strawberry blite chenopodium capitatum blitum capitatum 2012 09 02
Strawberry blite (Blitum capitatum, Syn. Chenopodium capitatum) is an edible annual plant, also known as blite goosefoot, strawberry goosefoot, strawberry spinach, Indian paint, and Indian ink.
It is native to most of North America throughout the United States and Canada, including northern areas. It is considered to be endangered in Ohio. It is also found in parts of Europe and New Zealand.
Fruit are small, pulpy, bright red and edible, resembling strawberries. The juice from the fruit was also used as a red dye by natives. The fruits contain small, black, lens-shaped seeds that are 0.7-1.2 mm long. The greens are edible raw or as a potherb, but if raw should be eaten in moderation as they contain oxalates. The seeds may be toxic in large amounts.
Strawberry blite is found in moist mountain valleys.
