AMARANTHUS RETROFLEXUS

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Names:- Common amaranth, pigweed

Homotypic Synonyms:- Amaranthus retroflexus var. genuinus, Galliaria

retroflexa, Pyxidium retroflexum.

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

Retroflexus (L) Turned backwards or downwards.

General description:- Erect annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-100 cm. simple or branched, slightly angular or longitudinally striate in the

basal part, densely pubescent to pilose, especially at the base of the

inflorescence.

Leaves:-

1) 3-7x2-4 cm. long-petiolate, rhombic-ovate, with a somewhat undulate margin,

almost glabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, usually whitish-green, composed of ascending-erect to slightly

incurved, dense flowered, usually short, thick branches, crowded towards the

apex, the terminal not much longer than the laterals.

2) Bracteoles, rigid and spiny-tipped, 3-6 mm, usually twice as long as the

perianth, with scarious margins.

3) Perianth segments, 5, mostly scarious, c. 3 mm, cuneate to spathulate,

retuse, with the mid-rib ending shortly below the mucronulate apex.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, equalling or shorter than the perianth, rugulose above splitting

transversely.

Key features:-

1) Stems, at the base of the flowering region densely pubescent.

2) Branches of the inflorescence, usually short and ascending-erect.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Fields, gardens, olive groves, riverbanks, etc. 0-800(-1300) m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. Native to North America, widely naturalised

elsewhere. Fairly common and widespread on Crete.

Flowering time:- May-Oct.

Photos by:- An Other