Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson
prostrate pigweed (mat amaranth; prostrate tumbleweed)
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
prostrate pigweed (mat amaranth; prostrate tumbleweed)
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems prostrate or decumbent, several, glabrous to short-hairy, 30-70 cm tall.
Leaves:
Alternate or opposite, the blades rarely over 3 cm long, diamond-shaped to egg-shaped, callous-margined, bristle-tipped narrowing to a slender stalk.
Flowers:
Inflorescence in small axillary clusters; bracts narrowly lanceolate, bristle-tipped; tepals 4-5; stamens 3-4.
Fruits:
Capsules opening along an "equator", the top coming off like a lid, 1-seeded; seeds 1.3-1.7 mm long, lens-shaped.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Dry disturbed areas in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; infrequent in S BC; throughout N. America, W. Indies, Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Amaranthus graecizans L.