Amaranthus albus
Common names
tumbleweed amaranth
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Similar taxa
Stem, pale green, with numerous ascending branches making more or less globular plant, 30 to 90 cm tall. Breaks off at ground level at maturity and is rolled over open fields by wind, distributing the seeds. Leaves spatulate, short-petioled 1.3 to 2.5 cm long. Flowers small, greenish, in axillary clusters (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981).
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Year naturalised
1875
Origin
N. America
Life cycle and dispersal
Seed small round, shiny, black, each contained in a bladderlike hull (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981). Wind dispersed.
Other information
Etymology
amaranthus: From the Greek a- ‘without’ or ‘lacking’ and maraino ‘to fade’, meaning unfading and referring to the durability of the flowers of some species
albus: From the Latin albus ‘white’