Chenopodium foliosum

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Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The plant produces small, juicy fruits that are consumed as a fresh fruit; they are also used in jams, desserts, and traditional fermented beverages (e.g., kisses or honey cake fillings). Reports describe a mildly sweet to slightly tart flavor and sometimes note a mild “raw” or “leafy” note that can be reduced by brief heat or processing. Regional cuisines report combining C. foliosum fruits with other berries and syrups, in which the mucilaginous pulp contributes to a viscous mouthfeel.

Colorants and tanning:
Berries yield anthocyanins that give purple–magenta coloration in acidic media and blue–green hues under alkaline conditions; the plant is used as a natural coloring agent in foods and beverages. The leaf sheaths yield a yellow/brown dye that has been used on textile fibers; β-sitosterol is present in plant tissues. There is no documented traditional or industrial tannin extraction.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Fresh leaves have been described as having a mild, herbaceous aroma; leaves and berries have been used in perfumery in combination with other herbs. Extracts have been tested for cosmetic applications as potential fragrance components; no commercial-scale adoption is reported.

Scientific/model-organism use:
C. foliosum is used as a comparative model in studies of the evolution of betalain biosynthesis in Caryophyllales. Molecular phylogenies and population-level studies have clarified relationships among C. album, C. quinoa, and C. foliosum, and an available dataset is used to identify ecological and genetic factors driving adaptation. The species is cited in genomic comparisons of betalain pathways; no reference genome for C. foliosum is reported.

Ornamental and horticultural:
cultivars are grown as ornamental climbers for their purple-red fruits and foliage; cut branches and garlands are used in floral arrangements. The plant’s low-water tolerance supports landscape uses in drier sites.

Standards and regulation:
As a novel or minor fruit/leaf food, some jurisdictions require pre-market assessment for food use and exclude unverified health claims. Dye uses for textiles are not regulated beyond standard colorfastness standards. No ISO/ASTM specifications exist for C. foliosum products; national rules for novel foods or cosmetics may apply where relevant.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Harvesting from wild populations is conducted in parts of the Mediterranean; concerns have been raised about overharvesting in some regions, leading to recommendations for managed cultivation. Cropping methods focus on propagation from seed and support production without irrigation in semi-arid soils.

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No distribution data was extracted from POWO/KEW yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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