Amaranthus spinosus L.

  • Authority

    Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

  • Family

    Amaranthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Amaranthus spinosus L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stem stout, ridged, erect or ascending, glabrous below, somewhat pubescent above, usually much branched, sometimes red, 3-12 dm. high. Leaves ovate, slender-petioled, rhombic-ovate or the upper lanceolate, acute at both ends, 2-8 cm. long, with a pair of rigid stipular spines at each node, the midvein excurrent; flowers monoecious, the pistillate in numerous capitate axillary clusters, the staminate in dense terminal spreading or drooping spikes 2-18 cm. long; bracts lanceolate-subulate, about as long as or longer than the 5 scarious oblong mucronate-tipped 1-nerved sepals, and the thin imperfectly eircumscissile utricle; stamens 5; style-branches 3; seed black, shining, nearly 1 mm. broad.

  • Distribution

    Waste grounds. Great Harbor Cay. and New Providence : United States : West Indies; all tropical and warm temperate regions. Spiny Amaranth. Calalue.

    New Providence Bahamas South America| United States of America North America| West Indies|