''Cycloloma'' is a monotypic genus which contains the sole species ''Cycloloma atriplicifolium'', which is known by the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s winged pigweed, tumble ringwing, plains tumbleweed, and tumble-weed. page 16 This plant is native to central North America, but it is spreading and has been occasionally reported in far-flung areas from

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

to the Canadian prairie. It is considered an

introduced species An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived there ...

outside of central North America. This is a bushy annual herb forming a rounded pale green clump which may exceed in height. It is very intricately branched, with toothed leaves occurring near the base. The spreading stems bear widely spaced flowers are small immature fruits fringed with a nearly transparent membranous wing. In autumn, the plant forms a

tumbleweed A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of a number of species of plants. It is a diaspore that, once mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem and rolls due to the force of the wind. In most such species, the tumble ...

. The fruit is a utricle about 2 millimeters long containing a single seed.

Uses

The seeds are eaten as a food staple by Native American peoples including the Zuni and

Hopi The Hopi are a Native American ethnic group who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, there are 19,338 Hopi in the country. The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation within the Unite ...

. The Zuni people mix the seeds with ground corn to make a mush. The Zuni also grind the seeds, mix them with corn meal and make them into steamed cakes. The Zuni also chew the blossoms and rub them all over the hands for protection.Stevenson, p.84

References

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfilePhoto gallery

'' Cycloloma atriplicifolium '' - Online
In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Hrsg.): ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'', Volume 4: ''Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1.'', Oxford University Press, New York, , p. 265.
''Cycloloma atriplicifolium''
at Tropicos Chenopodioideae Amaranthaceae genera Monotypic Caryophyllales genera Flora of Canada Flora of the Eastern United States Flora of the Western United States Plants used in Native American cuisine Taxa named by John Merle Coulter Tumbleweeds Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Amaranthaceae-stub