AMARANTHUS GRAECIZANS

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- Southern amaranth, Tumbleweed.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Amaranthus angustifolius.

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

Graecizans (L) Becoming widespread.

General description:- Procumbent, spreading annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 70 cm. usually erect and glabrous.

Leaves:-

1) 2-4 cm. ovate or elliptic-rhombic, usually acute.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, of axillary cymose clusters.

2) Bracteoles, 3/5-3/4 as long as the perianth, ovate, mucronulate.

3) Perianth-segments, 3, 1·3-2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acute.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, longer than the perianth, somewhat rough, muricate. dehiscing

transversely, with green, longitudinal veins when young.

Key features:-

1) Bracteoles not longer than the perianth, not with small spines (spinose).

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Naturalised on cultivated and waste ground, roadsides.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece, probably native to the Mediterranean

region and SW Asia Widespread on Crete but local. Possibly introduced.

Flowering time:- May-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton