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redroot amaranth, rough pigweed

slender amaranth

Habit Plants densely to moderately villous, especially in distal portions.
Stems

erect, 1.5–15(20) dm; simple or branched distally, green or reddish.

Leaves

blades ovate to rhombic-ovate, 2–15 cm, bases wedge-shaped;

margins entire; flat to crisped;

midveins extending to a short spine;

tips acute to obtuse;

petioles 2.5–8 cm.

Inflorescences

terminal and axillary; erect to somewhat reflexed tightly clustered panicles, green to silvery green;

bracts numerous, lanceolate to awl-shaped, 3–6 mm.

Flowers

perianth segments similar in staminate and pistillate flowers; spoon-shaped to obovate, overlapping, reflexed with age; equal to subequal;

midveins extending to a short spine;

tips rounded to notched.

Staminate flowers

perianth segments 4–5, 2–3 mm;

stamens (3)4–5.

Pistillate flowers

perianth segments 5; (2)2.5–3.5 mm;

stigmas 3.

Fruits

ovoid to elliptic, 1.5–2.5 mm; smooth to rugose at bases; dehiscence usually circumscissile.

Seeds

lenticular; ovoid to obovoid, 1–1.3 mm, dark brown to black; shiny.

2n

=34.

Amaranthus retroflexus

Amaranthus viridus

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Disturbed areas, fields, roadsides, streambanks. Flowering Jun–Sep. 0–1500 m. BW, Lava, Owy, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; worldwide. Exotic?

See also A. hybridus.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 66
Bridget Chipman
Sibling taxa
A. albus, A. blitoides, A. californicus, A. deflexus, A. hybridus, A. hypochondriacus, A. powellii, A. viridus
A. albus, A. blitoides, A. californicus, A. deflexus, A. hybridus, A. hypochondriacus, A. powellii, A. retroflexus
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