The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Amaranthus viridis

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
viridis: From the Latin viridis 'green'

Common Name(s)

green amaranth

Family

Amaranthaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Habitat

Found in gardens, wastelands, pastures and along roadsides (Ermert and Clapp 1998) crops, sand dunes (Webb et al, 1988).

Similar Taxa

A. viridis is a vigorous annual that grows up to around 1 m tall. The leaves are mid to light green, deeply veined and alternate. They have a long leaf stalk with a broad base tapering to a pointed tip. The inflorescence, the flowering part of the plant, is a dense spike of small green flowers. Small brown fruits that contain seeds follow flowering. (Ermert and Clapp 1998).

Flower Colours

Green

Year Naturalised

1867

Origin

pantropical

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010