AMARANTHUS BOUCHONII

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

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

Bouchonii Meaning uncertain, perhaps for someone.

General description:- Procumbent to erect annual.

Stems:-

a) 20-100 cm.

b) erect.

c) glabrous to sparsely pubescent.

Leaves:-

a) 3-8 cm.

b) ovate or ovate-oblong.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence:

a) elongate-spicate, often compound, with long branches.

2) Bracteoles:

a) longest, 4-6 mm, linear-lanceolate, long-spinous; ovate, with a very long

mucro,

about twice as long as the perianth.

3) Perianth-segments:

a) 3-5,

b) (1·5-)2·5-3 mm.

c) elliptic-lanceolate to linear;usually acute, about as long as the fruit.

4) Stamens:

a) 3(-5).

Fruit:- 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