Quinoa - Chenopodium quinoa

Grows to a height of about 75 cm.  It has numerous stem leaves with very long petioles and bears weighty masses of tiny edible seeds.  The seed heads may be of various colours ranging from a yellowy green through to beetroot red.

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Occasionally found as a casual escape from bird seed and game bird mixes. It is also occasionally grown as a health food crop and again this may lead to casual escapes.

Sometimes grown as a spring crop but escapes may persist until autumn.

Annual.

Widespread but infrequent casual in Britain.

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.