Amaranthus hybridus

Taxobox
name = "Amaranthus hybridus"


image_width = 210px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
genus = "Amaranthus"
species = "A. hybridus"
binomial = "Amaranthus hybridus"
binomial_authority = L.
synonyms = "Amaranthus chlorostachys" (Willd.)
"Amaranthus incurvatus" (Tim. ex Gren. & Godr.)
"Amaranthus patulus" (Bertol.)

"Amaranthus hybridus", commonly called Smooth Amaranth, Smooth Pigweed, Red Amaranth, or Slim Amaranth, is a species of annual flowering plant. It is a weedy species found now over much of North America and introduced into Europe and Eurasia.

Description

"A. hybridus" grows from a short taproot and can be up to 2.5 m in height. It is a glabrous or glabrescent plant.

Distribution

"A. hybridus" was originally a pioneer plant in Eastern North America. It has been reported to have been found in every state except Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska. It is also found in many provinces of Canada, and in parts of Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and South America. It has been naturalized in many places of warmer climate. It grows in many different places, including disturbed habitats.

Taxonomy

It is extremely variable, and it is believed that many other "Amaranthus" species are natural hybridizations or derive from "A. hybridus".

As a weed

Although easily controlled and not particularly competitive, it is recognized as a harmful weed of North American crops.

The plant was used for food and medicine by several Native American groups.

References

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?290,294,303 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/amaranthus_hybridus.htm Various Images of Green Amaranth]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200006982 Scientific and Taxonomic Information]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMHY Distribution and Pictures]
* [http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Amaranthus+hybridus Ethnobotany]
* A. Davis, K. Renner, C. Sprague, L. Dyer, D. Mutch (2005). Integrated Weed Management. MSU.