SPECIES DESCRIPTION
AMARANTHUS BOUCHONII
Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE
Common Name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- None
Meaning:- Amaranthus (Gr) Unfading, reference to the everlasting flowers.
Bouchonii Meaning uncertain, perhaps for someone.
General description:- Procumbent to erect annual.
Stems:-
1) 20-100 cm. erect, glabrous to sparsely pubescent.
Leaves:-
1) 3-8 cm. ovate or ovate-oblong.
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence, elongate-spicate, often compound, with long branches.
2) Bracteoles, longest, 4-6 mm, linear-lanceolate, long-spinous; ovate, with a very
long mucro, about twice as long as the perianth.
3) Perianth-segments, 3-5,(1·5-)2·5-3 mm, elliptic-lanceolate to linear;usually acute,
about as long as the fruit.
4) Stamens, 3(-5).
Fruit:-
1) Dehiscent or indehiscent.
Key features:-
1) Longest bracteoles 4-6 mm.
2) Stamens usually 3.
3) Fruit indehiscent.
4) Bracteoles longer than the perianth, spinose.
5) Leaves ovate or ovate-oblong.
Habitat:- Weed among irrigated crops. 0-150 m.
Distribution:- First reported from W Crete, subsequently collected from Serifos and
Lesbos. Probably more widespread. May have originated from A powellii. in W
Europe. Currently known from only one location on Crete.
Flowering time:- May-Oct.
Photos by:- An Other
