Amaranthus deflexus
Amaranthus pumilus
Argentina amaranth, deflexed amaranth, large-fruit amaranth, low amaranth
coast amaranth, sea-side amaranth, seabeach amaranth
ascending or prostrate, profusely branched basally, radiating from rootstock, mostly 0.2–0.5 m.
prostrate to ascending (often forming mats), red, much-branched, 0.1–0.4(–0.5) m, fleshy.
petiole 1/2 as long as to equaling blade;
blade rhombic-ovate or ovate to lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.5–1 cm, base tapering or cuneate, margins entire, plane or slightly undulate, apex subacute, obtuse, or retuse or shallowly emarginate, mucronulate.
clustered near tips of branches;
petiole 5–10 mm;
blade orbiculate, broadly ovate or obovate, 1–1.5 cm × 1–1.5 cm, fleshy, base broadly cuneate to tapering, margin entire, plane or slightly undulate, apex broadly rounded to obtuse, mucronate.
of pistillate flowers linear, 0.5–1 mm, 1/2 as long as tepals.
of pistillate flowers ovate or elliptic, 1.2–2 mm, 1/2 as long as tepals.
terminal, erect, compact, pyramidal panicles and also some axillary clusters, green or silvery green, occasionally tinged with red, leafless at least distally.
dense axillary glomerules, green.
clustered at tips of inflorescences;
tepals 2–3;
stamens 2–3.
intermixed with pistillate;
tepals 5;
stamens 5.
tepals 2–3, narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, not clawed, equal or subequal, 1.2–2 mm, apex broadly acute;
style branches erect;
stigmas 3.
tepals 5, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, slightly unequal, 2.5–4 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse;
style branches erect;
stigmas 3.
very dark brown to black, 1–1.2 mm diam., shiny, filling only proximal portion of fruit.
dark reddish brown, lenticular, 2.5 mm diam., glossy.
marked with 2(–3) green lines that intersect at apex and divide fruit into halves or quarters, slightly to distinctly inflated, ellipsoid, 2–3 mm, distinctly longer than tepals, smooth (in dry plants wrinkled or rugose), indehiscent.
ovoid, 4–6 mm, exceeding tepals, fleshy, smooth or slightly rugose, longitudinally wrinkled on drying, indehiscent.
Amaranthus deflexus
Amaranthus pumilus
The hybrid between Amaranthus deflexus and A. muricatus was described from Europe as A. ×tarraconensis Sennen & Pau (see J. L. Carretero 1979) and may be expected in North America in the future in places of possible co-occurrence of the parental species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Amaranthus pumilus is a globally and federally threatened species (Global Heritage Status Rank G2; National Heritage Status Rank N2) originally restricted to dunes and barrier island beaches along the Atlantic Ocean from southern Massachusetts to South Carolina. It has been eliminated from two-thirds of its former range, being last reported from Massachusetts in 1849, from Rhode Island in 1856, from New Jersey in 1913, and from Virginia in 1972 (S. Ramsey et al. 2000). As of fall 2003, extant populations are known only from Long Island, New York, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolia. Many threats exist, including construction of sea walls and dune fencing, development, heavy recreational use, and off-road vehicle traffic. It is difficult to afford protection because of the dynamic nature of the habitat and the fugitive nature of the biology of the species. “Fugitive” refers to the fact that the species does not necessarily occur throughout its potential range at any given time (S. E. Clemants 1992).
Amaranthus pumilus is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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