AMARANTHUS POWELLII

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

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:-

a) (30-)100-200 cm.

b) erect or ascending, stout,

c) sparsely to densely hairy (pubescent) above.

d) often reddish-tinged.

Leaves:-

a) 3-8 cm.

b) oblong-petiolate.

c) blade with prominent whitish veins beneath..

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescences:

a) flowers in a terminal, erect dense, narrow, spike, 20-40 cm long, with some

shorter lateral spikes at the base.

2) Bracteoles:

a) (2-)3-4 mm.

b) ovate, with a very long sharp point (mucro), 1.5-2 times as long as the

perianth.

3) Perianth-segments:

a) 5, 1·5-2(-2·4) mm.

b) narrowly ovate, usually acute, about as long as the fruit.

4) Stamens 5.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) splitting open to release the seeds (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