Amaranthus watsonii
Amaranthus watsonii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Amaranthus |
Species: | A. watsonii |
Binomial name | |
Amaranthus watsonii Standl. | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Amaranthus watsonii is a species of amaranth known by the common name Watson's amaranth.[2] It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in sandy places such as deserts and beaches, and disturbed areas. It is also known as a rare introduced species in parts of Europe. This is an erect annual herb producing a glandular hairy stem to a maximum height of about a meter. The leaves are generally oval-shaped and up to 8 centimeters long, with a petiole of up to 9 centimeters. The species is dioecious, with male and female individuals producing different types of flowers. The inflorescence is a long spike cluster of flowers interspersed with spiny green glandular bracts. The fruit is a smooth capsule about 2 millimeters long that snaps in half to reveal a small shiny reddish black seed.
References
- ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
- ↑ "Amaranthus watsonii". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 7 January 2016.