Blitum capitatum
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strawberry blite (Blitum capitatum,[1] syn. Chenopodium capitatum) is an edible annual plant, also known as blite goosefoot, strawberry goosefoot, strawberry spinach, Indian paint, and Indian ink.
| Strawberry blite | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Blitum |
| Species: | B. capitatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Blitum capitatum | |
It is native to most of North America throughout the United States and Canada, including northern areas. It is considered to be extirpated in Ohio[2]. It is also found in parts of Europe and New Zealand.
Fruit are small, pulpy, bright red and edible, resembling strawberries, though their taste is more bland.[3] The juice from the fruit was also used as a red dye by native North Americans. The fruits contain small, black, lens-shaped seeds that are 0.7–1.2 mm long.[4] The greens contain vitamins A and C; they are edible raw when young or as a potherb.[3] If raw they should be eaten in moderation as they contain oxalates. The seeds may be toxic in large amounts.[5]
Strawberry blite is found in moist mountain valleys.
