Goosefoot seed

Goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
Credit: Jim Pisarowicz

Description

The flat hard seeds from the weedy goosefoot (Chenopodium) plant. The seeds are used to produce the artificially granular surface of Shagreen leather. They are thickly scattered on the ground, then untanned pelts are placed on top and trampled. The husks of the seeds make indentations in the skin while the seed oils tan the skins.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Chenopodium (goosefoot); Gåsefod (Dan.); Ganzenvoet (Ned.); bluebush; chualar

Additional Images

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  Quinoa Chenopodium quinoa

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  Fat hen Chenopodium album

Resources and Citations

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "goosefoot." Accessed 31 Oct. 2004 .

• USDA-NRCS PLANTS database at plants.usda.gov

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goosefoot (Accessed Jan. 25, 2006)