Scientific Family
Amaranthaceae
Synonyms
Amaranthus chlorostachys, Amaranthus incurvatus, Amaranthus patulus
Other common names
green amaranth
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
A. powelli, A. palmeri
Height
To 6-1/2 feet
Riparian
Yes
Annual herb, stems erect, simple to branching, green or sometimes reddish-purple and hairy.
Flowering stems narrow, soft, lax, densely covered by small flowers in terminal and axillary clusters, bracts are <1/8 inch long. Plants are hairy (at least the upper parts). Stems, leaves and flower stems are green or sometimes reddish-purple.
Habitat
Found on sandy soils on riverbanks, railroads, roadsides, agricultural and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Terminal and axillary spikes, terminal are longer, many. Male and female flowers have 5 tepals (sepals/petals). Female tepals are lance-like, 1/16 to 1/8 inch, unequal, thin and soft, pointed. 5 stamened male flowers are at the ends of spikes.
Flower color
Green, reddish or purple
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems to 6-1/2 feet often shorter, often reddish and hairy. Leaf blades egg to lance-shaped, pointed to rounded at tip, with narrow straight sides converging at the base, 3/4 to 4-3/4 inches long, 3/4 to 2-1/4 inches wide, leaf stems shorter than leaves.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Inflated and bladder-like (utricles), egg-shaped with the narrower end at the base, up to 1/16 inch long, smooth towards the base, opening along a transverse circular line to release seeds, top opening like a lid, lid wrinkled or warty.
Fruit type
Other
Fruit color
Black
Seeds lentil-shaped to roughly spherical, <1/6 inch in diameter.