AMARANTHUS ALBUS

Family and Genus:- See- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Name:- White amaranth

Homotypic Synonyms:- Glomeraria alba.

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

Albus (L) Bright, white.

General description:- Short to tall annual.

Stems:-

1) Stout, erect or ascending, hairy above.

Leaves:-

1) Oval to diamond-shaped, pale green, stalked, white-hairy on the veins beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, leafy to the top. greenish-white, small, 2-3 mm, numerous, borne

in branched spikes, unisexual.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, dehiscent.

Key features:-

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Weed of cultivated fields, especially of irrigated crops, occasionally in

ruderal or seminatural habitats, (roadsides, river banks etc.). 0-1000 m.

Distribution:- Native to S. United States. Naturalised and widespread in the

Mediterranean region, Widespread on Crete but localised around coastal areas.

Flowering time:- Mar-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton