The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Amaranthus albus

Etymology

Amaranthus: From the Greek a- 'without' or 'lacking' and maraino 'to fade', meaning unfading and referring to the durability of the flowers of some species
albus: white

Common Name(s)

tumbleweed amaranth

Family

Amaranthaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Similar Taxa

Stem, pale green, with numerous ascending branches making more or less globular plant, 30 to 90 cm tall. Breaks off at ground level at maturity and is rolled over open fields by wind, distributing the seeds. Leaves spatulate, short-petioled 1.3 to 2.5 cm long. Flowers small, greenish, in axillary clusters (Wax, Fawcett and Isely 1981).

Year Naturalised

1875

Origin

N. America

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010