Amaranthus blitum

Species: Amaranthus blitum

English Name: Emarginate Amaranth

Chinese Name: 凹頭莧

Family: Amaranthaceae

Description:
Stem ascending, light green or purple, 10-30 cm tall, branched from base, glabrous. Petiole 1-3.5 cm; leaf blade ovate or ovate-rhombic, 1.5-4.5 × 1-3 cm, base cuneate, margin entire or slightly undulate, apex notched, with a mucro. Flower clusters axillary, those of terminal clusters erect spikes or complex thyrsoid structures. Bracts and bracteoles oblong, shorter than 1 mm. Tepals light green, oblong or lanceolate, 1.2-1.5 mm, with a midvein adaxially, apex acute. Stamens slightly shorter than perianth; stigmas 3 or 2, falling off when utricles ripen. Utricles exceeding perianth, compressed-ovoid, ca. 3 mm, indehiscent, slightly rugose to nearly smooth. Seeds black to brownish black, circular, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 34.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (2003). Flora of China, Volume 5: Ulmaceae through Basellaceae. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis

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