Waterhemp or Lambsquarter?
by Bob Hartzler
January 21, 2001 -  Is it mistaken identity, or just a bad photograph? - You make the call.

Closeup of seed in advertisement

Waterhemp seed (Davis, L. W.  1993.  Weed Seeds of the Great Plains.)

Note:  Waterhemp seed are contained within the remnants of the flowers, and these remnants may  mask the shiny appearance of the seed pictured in the ad.  However, in my experience at least 25% of the seed breaks free of these floral parts when collected.  In addition, the few 'clean seeds' in the advertisement photo lack the normal shininess associated with waterhemp seed, but this may be an artifact of the photographer 'enhancing' the photo.

Common lambsquarter seed.  (Davis, L. W.  1993.  Weed Seeds of the Great Plains.

Note:  Seed of lambsquarter is more likely to remain within the floral parts, as seen in this photo.

Prepared by Bob Hartzler, extension weed management specialist, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University