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''Chenopodium'' is a large genus (100–150 species), mainly found in temperate zones throughout the world. Some species have naturalized in the mountainous regions of the tropics. ''Chenopodium album'' consists of a very variable polyploid weed complex. In the montane zone of the central Himalayan region types selected from this complex are now cultivated for their seeds and for their leaves. The cultivars grown for the seeds can be distinguished from wild plants by their usually taller habit (up to 4 m), a large, leafless, exserted, compact and drooping inflorescence with bisexual and female flowers, and non-shattering, larger seed.

In Africa some other wild ''Chenopodium'' species are used as vegetables in a similar way as ''Chenopodium album''. In Madagascar and Zambia ''[[Chenopodium giganteum]]'' D.Don (synonym: ''Chenopodium amaranticolor'' (Coste & Reyn.) Coste) (purple goosefoot, tree spinach) is considered an excellent cooked vegetable. It is closely related to ''Chenopodium album'', but also to ''Chenopodium quinoa'' Willd. (quinoa), cultivated as a grain crop in South America, and its taxonomy is still unclear.

In southern Africa young parts of ''[[Chenopodium murale]]'' L. (nettle-leaved goosefoot) are used as a cooked vegetable, and in West Africa they are sometimes used in sauces. The plant is said to be a good forage although in Australia poisoning of livestock has been reported. In Morocco the seeds are eaten as a famine food. ''Chenopodium murale'' much resembles ''Chenopodium album'', but differs in its rhombic-ovate leaves with numerous teeth, clearly cymose inflorescences and sharply keeled, closely pitted seeds.

The leaves of ''[[Chenopodium opulifolium]]'' Schrad. ex Koch & Ziz (grey goosefoot) are eaten as a cooked vegetable in Tanzania. The plant is also considered a good forage and sometimes it is cultivated as an ornamental. It is very similar to ''Chenopodium album'', but differs in its broader leaves and usually more glaucous mealy inflorescence.