Amaranthus retroflexus L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zusterkloosterbossen, Kermt, Belgium

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Very rare in Zimbabwe
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Erect or spreading annual herb, up to c 80 cm high, with a densely hairy, stout, subterete to angled stem. Leaves ovate to rhomboid or oblong-ovate, 5–11 cm long, hairy along the veins beneat and often the lower margins; petiole up to c. 6 cm long, sometimes as long as leaf-blade. Flowers in stout, axillary and terminal spikes, usually shortly branched to give a lobed appearance, greenish or rarely somewhat pink-suffused, male and female flowers intermixed, the latter generally much more plentiful. Bracts and bracteoles lanceolate-subulate, pale-membranous with a prominent green midrib. Perianth segments 5. Capsule subglobose, c. 2 mm long, usually shorter than the perianth.
Notes:	Only known from this single record in Zimbabwe.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	A weed on irrigated land.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native in North America and Mexico, introduced into the Old world as a weed, but mostly in more temperate regions of Europe, Mediterranean region, North Africa and temperate Asia. Also in South Africa, Australia and northern South America.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 30 March 2020
Literature:	Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 16. Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 46 - 47.

Other sources of information about Amaranthus retroflexus:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Amaranthus retroflexus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Amaranthus retroflexus
African Plant Database: Amaranthus retroflexus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Amaranthus retroflexus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Amaranthus retroflexus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Amaranthus retroflexus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Amaranthus retroflexus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Amaranthus retroflexus
JSTOR Plant Science: Amaranthus retroflexus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Amaranthus retroflexus
Plants of the World Online: Amaranthus retroflexus
Tropicos: Amaranthus retroflexus
Wikipedia: Amaranthus retroflexus