Amaranthus hybridus

Amaranthus hybridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Amaranthus
Species: A. hybridus
Binomial name
Amaranthus hybridus
L.
Synonyms

Amaranthus hybridus, commonly called smooth amaranth, smooth pigweed, red amaranth, green amaranth[1] 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

Amaranthus hybridus

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 many other Amaranthus species are believed to be 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 and in traditional African medicine.

References

  1. ↑ "BSBI List 2007" (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 2014-10-17.