Amaranthus albus
Common name
tumbleweed amaranth
Family
Amaranthaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
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).
Year naturalised
1875
Origin
N. America
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’
Reproduction
seed
Seed
Seed small round, shiny, black, each contained in a bladderlike hull (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981).
Dispersal
wind