Amaranthus retroflexus L.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (3)

Amaranthus retroflexus

Picture: Bart Wursten
Zusterkloosterbossen, Kermt, Belgium

Amaranthus retroflexus

Picture: Bart Wursten
Zusterkloosterbossen, Kermt, Belgium

Amaranthus retroflexus

Picture: Bart Wursten
Zusterkloosterbossen, Kermt, Belgium

Specimen citations: Display citations Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency: Very rare in Zambia
Status: Introduced
Description:
Erect or spreading annual herb, up to c 80 cm high, with a densely hairy, stout, subterete to angled stem. Leaves ovate to rhomboid or oblong-ovate, 5–11 cm long, hairy along the veins beneat and often the lower margins; petiole up to c. 6 cm long, sometimes as long as leaf-blade. Flowers in stout, axillary and terminal spikes, usually shortly branched to give a lobed appearance, greenish or rarely somewhat pink-suffused, male and female flowers intermixed, the latter generally much more plentiful. Bracts and bracteoles lanceolate-subulate, pale-membranous with a prominent green midrib. Perianth segments 5. Capsule subglobose, c. 2 mm long, usually shorter than the perianth.
Type location:
Cultivated plant
Notes: Only known from a single record in Zambia.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Native in North America and Mexico, introduced into the Old world as a weed, but mostly in more temperate regions of Europe, Mediterranean region, North Africa and temperate Asia. Also in South Africa, Australia and northern South America.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): S
Zambian distribution (Provinces): S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Monday 30 March 2020
Literature:

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 16.

Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 46 - 47.

Other sources of information about Amaranthus retroflexus:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Amaranthus retroflexus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Amaranthus retroflexus
African Plant Database: Amaranthus retroflexus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Amaranthus retroflexus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Amaranthus retroflexus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Amaranthus retroflexus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Amaranthus retroflexus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Amaranthus retroflexus
JSTOR Plant Science: Amaranthus retroflexus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Amaranthus retroflexus
Plants of the World Online: Amaranthus retroflexus
Tropicos: Amaranthus retroflexus
Wikipedia: Amaranthus retroflexus


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Amaranthus retroflexus.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=122200, retrieved 29 March 2024

Site software last modified: 10 May 2018 10:51pm
Terms of use