Prostrate Amaranth - Amaranthus blitoides
Other Names:
Amaranthus graecizans [misapplied]
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Native Species Global Rank :
GNR
State Rank :
SU
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value :
2
Agency Status USFWS :
USFS :
BLM :
Monoecious. Stems branched at the base, prostrate to ascending, 5–50 cm with glabrous to pubescent foliage. Leaf blade obovate, 10–25 mm long, mostly longer than the petiole. Inflorescence axillary glomerules; bracts broadly lanceolate, 2–3 mm long with a spine tip. Flowers: sepals 3 to 5, narrowly ovate, acuminate, 2–3 mm long; stamens 3. Utricle 2–3 mm, as long as sepals; seed ca. 1.3 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX ).
Prostrate Amaranth -
Amaranthus blitoides , native
* Plants: Staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant (monoecious). Stems branched and prostrate, often less than 1.5 feet tall.
* Hairs: Glabrous to pubescent.
* Leaves: Petiole barely longer than blade. Lanceolate to ovate, 10-25 mm long.
* Inflorescence: Shorter flowering stems.
Palmer's Amaranth -
Amaranthus palmeri , non-native, invasive, and undesirable
* Plants: Staminate and pistillate flowers on separate plants (dioecious). Central stem, reddish-green, and often at least 3 feet tall.
* Hairs: Hairs absent (glabrous).
* Leaves: Petiole longer than blade. Lanceolate when young, becoming more obovate with maturity.
* Inflorescence: Relatively long and narrow, and terminal or in axils of leaves.
Redroot Amaranth -
Amaranthus retroflexus , native
* Plants: Staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant (monoecious). Central stem, reddish below, and often less than 3 feet tall.
* Hairs: soft and short (pubescent) on the stem, giving the plant a fuzzy appearance.
* Leaves: Petiole shorter than blade. Blade obovate in shape, 2-10 cm long.
* Inflorescence: Relatively short and thick, with short, pointed bracts.
Disturbed soil of fields, roadsides, margins of streams, ponds; plains, valleys (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX ).
