AMARANTHUS BLITOIDES

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- Prostrate amaranth

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Amaranthus (Gr) Unfading, reference to the everlasting flowers.

Blitoides (Gr) Resembling Blitum, an ancient Greek name for a kind of

spinach.

General description:- Procumbent, spreading annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-50 cm. procumbent, whitish; gabrous or pubescent in the upper part.

Leaves:-

1)1·5-3 cm.

2) Oblong-lanceolate to obovate-spatula-shaped, obtuse, with a distinct

membranous margin.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) of short, axillary cymose clusters, leafy to the apex.

2) Bracteoles:

a) shorter than the perianth.

b) lanceolate.

3) Perianth-segments:

a) 4 or 5.

b) unequal.

c) resembling the bracteoles.

d) the largest 2-2·5 mm, with a short acumen.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, dehiscing transversely.

Key features:-

1) Perianth-segments (4)5

2) Inflorescence composed entirely of axillary cymose clusters, usually leafy to the

apex.

3) Fruit dehiscing transversely.

4) Large perianth-segments with a short acumen.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Weed of cultivated fields, (especially of irrigated crops), gardens,

roadsides, wasteground, trampled areas. 0-1000 m.

Distribution:- Native to C & SW. United States. Naturalised and widespread in the

Mediterranean region, Widespread on Crete but localised around coastal areas.

Flowering time:- May-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton