AMARANTHUS POWELLII
Common Names:- Green amaranth
Synonyms:- Amaranthus chlorostachys var. powellii, Amaranthus hybridus
subsp. powellii, Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. powelli, Amaranthus
retroflexus var. powellii.
Meaning:- Amaranthus (Gr) Unfading, reference to the everlasting flowers.
Powellii (L) Perhaps for Thomas Powell (1809-1897) missionary in
Samoa.
General description:- Erect annual.
Stems:-
1) (30-)100-200 cm, erect or ascending, stout, sparsely to densely pubescent
above, often reddish-tinged.
Leaves:-
1) 3-8 cm, oblong-petiolate, blade with prominent whitish veins beneath..
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescences, in a terminal, erect dense, narrow, spike, 20-40 cm long, with
some shorter lateral spikes at the base.
2) Bracteoles, (2-)3-4 mm, ovate, with a very long mucro, 1.5-2 times as long as the
perianth.
3) Perianth-segments, 5, 1·5-2(-2·4) mm, narrowly ovate, usually acute, about as
long as the fruit.
4) Stamens 5.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, dehiscing transversely.
2) Seeds a dark reddish brown.
Key features:-
1) Bracteoles, 1.5-2 times as long as the perianth, distinctly exceeding the style
branches.
2) Inflorescence, green.
3) Longest bracteoles, 4-6 mm, c. 2 times as long as the perianth.
4) Terminal inflorescence, stiffly erect and distinctly longer than the lateral, erect
inflorescence branches.
Habitat:- Cultivated fields, especially among irrigated crops, roadsides,
wasteground. 0-1100 m.
Distribution:- Scattered on the Greek mainland. Native of W North and South
America. Introduced as a ruderal weed in many areas. Rare on Crete currently
known from only two locations in the Lasithi area.
Flowering time:- May-Oct.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton