Scientific Family
Amaranthaceae
Synonyms
Amaranthus pubescens, Amaranthus albus L. var. pubescen
Other common names
tumbleweed
tumble pigweed
white amaranth
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Amaranthus graecizans
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
No
A rounded, bushy, prostrate to erect plant, often becoming a tumbleweed at maturity, spreading many seeds as they tumble along the ground.
Stems erect or ascending without nodal spines; 3 sepals; bracts much longer than the calyx; flowers in dense or spike-like, leafy-bracted, axillary clusters; sepals narrowed upward but not noticeably wider than its base; separate male and female flowers.
Habitat
Cultivated or disturbed sites, sandy areas, vacant areas and roadsides.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are borne in small spiny clusters at the base of leaves. Male flowers have 3 sepals and 3 stamens. Female flowers have 3 sepals, are oblong with a pointed tip and are to 1/8 inch long.
Flower color
Green, whitish-green or yellowish
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are oblong to 1-1/2 inches long, leaf stem 1/2 as long as leaf blade or longer.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Light Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
1-seeded, 2 or 3 beaked, bladder-like fruit to about 1/8 inch with a rough surface.
Fruit type
Capsule
About 1/16 inch wide, reddish-brown to black, shiny and smooth.