CHENOPO'DIUM, a genus of plants of the natural order eltenopodiaetue, of which some of the native British species are well known by the name of GOOSEFOOT, as weeds grow ing in gardens, ou heaps of rubbish, and in waste places. The species are mostly annuals, with entire or toothed leaves, which in some of them have a sort of mealy hoariness. They are mostly natives of Europe, and of the temperate parts of Asia; but some are natives of America, into which, however, some of the common European species have found their way, and are naturalized as weeds. The genus has hermaphrodite towers, with perianth of five small green scales, five stamens, and solitary flat seeds. The leaves of many species are used as a substitute for spinagc, particularly those of the Goon HENRY, WILD SPINAGE, or ENGLISH MERCURY (e. bonus Ilenrieus), a perennial plant, native of Britain and other parts of Europe, often found growing by waysides, with stem more than a foot high, powdered with minute transparent globules, and large, alternate, triangular, arrow-shaped, entire leaves. It is cultivated in some places, par ticularly in Lincolnshire, chiefly for the leaves, but the young shoots are also used as asparagus. C. interrnedium, C. album, etc., annuals, common in waste places, are also
excellent substitutes for spillage. C. olidum or vulvaria (STINKLNG GOOSEFOOT), au annual with an extremely nauseous odor, growing in waste places in Britain, etc., especially near the sea, is a popular medicine, in much repute as an antispasmodic and emmenagogne. C. botryg, a native of the s. of Europe, with pinnatifid leaves resem blingthose of the oak, and hence called JERUSALEM OAK, is in use as an expectorant and anthelmintic. It is not fetid like the species last named, but agreeably fragrant. 0. arnbrosioides has a strong aromatic odor, is used in Mexico instead of tea, and is much cultivated in France, an infusion of it being deemed useful in nervous disorders. C. anthelmintieum, the WonmsEED of the United States, has a strong and somewhat aromatic odor, and a high reputation as verrnifuge. Its seeds are chiefly used, or the essential oil extracted from them, called oil of toormseed. More important than any of these species, as affording a principal article of food in the countries of which it is a native, is quinoa (q.v.).