Amaranthus graecizans
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Amaranthus graecizans sl23.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Amaranthus
| species = graecizans
| authority = L.{{Cite POWO | id = 10641-2 | title = Amaranthus graecizans L. | access-date = 20 October 2024}}
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = {{Species list
| Amaranthus graecizans subsp. graecizans |
| Amaranthus graecizans subsp. aschersonianus | (Thell.) Costea, D.M.Brenner & Tardif
| Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris | (Vill.) Brenan
| Amaranthus graecizans subsp. thellungianus | (Nevski) Gusev }}
| synonyms = {{Species list
|Amaranthus angustifolius|Lam.
|Blitum graecizans|(L.) Moench
|Glomeraria graecizans|(L.) Cav.
|Amaranthus blitum var. graecizans|(L.) Moq.
|Amaranthus viridis subsp. graecizans|(L.) Nyman
|Amaranthus graecizans var. normalis|Kuntze
|Galliaria graecizans|(L.) Nieuwl.
|Amaranthus angustifolius var. graecizans|(L.) Thell.
|Amaranthus angustifolius subsp. graecizans|(L.) Maire & Weiller}}
}}
Amaranthus graecizans, the Mediterranean amaranth{{PLANTS|id=AMGR13|taxon=Amaranthus graecizans|accessdate=7 January 2016}} or short-tepalled pigweed,{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }} is an annual species in the botanical family Amaranthaceae. It is native to Africa, southern Europe, East Asia to India and Central Asia.{{cite web |title=Amaranthus graecizans |publisher=Flora of Pakistan |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=242415677 |accessdate=2016-04-25}} It is naturalized in North America. More general common names include tumbleweed and pigweed.{{cite book
|title=Plant Names, Scientific and Popular: Including in the Case of Each Plant the Correct Botanical Name in Accordance with the Reformed Nomenclature, Together with Botanical and Popular Synonyms
|author=Albert Brown Lyons
|publisher=Nelson, Baker & Co.
|location=Detroit
|year=1900
|pages=630
|url=https://archive.org/details/plantnamesscien00lyongoog
}} page 27
Description
Amaranthus graecizans is an annual herb that grows up to {{convert|50|cm|abbr=off}} tall. Stems are branched from base, glabrous or covered with crisped hairs. The flowers are unisexual and are yellow with round black seeds that are 1–1.25 mm.{{cite book|last1=G. Miller|first1=Anthony|last2=Morris|first2=Miranda|title=Plants of Dhofar|date=1988|location=Oman|publisher=Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman|isbn=071570808-2|page=22}}
Habitat
Amaranthus graecizans grows in warm temperate zones where it can be found at elevations up to {{convert|2400|m|ft|-2|abbr=off}}.{{cite web|title=Amaranthus graecizans|url=http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Amaranthus+graecizans|website=Useful Tropical Plants|accessdate=24 January 2018}} It grows rapidly after rain and can be found on disturbed ground in the vicinity of human and livestock settlements as well as seasonally flooded sandy flats.{{cite book|last1=G. Miller|first1=Anthony|last2=Morris|first2=Miranda|title=Plants of Dhofar|date=1988|location=Oman|publisher=Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman|isbn=071570808-2|page=22}}
Uses
The edible leaves are used as a vegetable throughout Africa and the Middle East.Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen. It can be eaten raw, but was more often cooked, or added to sauces and stews. A common way to cook Amaranthus graecizans was to cook it in buttermilk, or to squeeze fresh lime-juice over it.{{cite book|last1=G. Miller|first1=Anthony|last2=Morris|first2=Miranda|title=Plants of Dhofar|date=1988|location=Oman|publisher=Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman|isbn=071570808-2|page=22}} The seeds are starchy and can also be eaten{{cite web|title=Amaranthus graecizans|url=http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Amaranthus+graecizans|website=Useful Tropical Plants|accessdate=24 January 2018}}
No members of this genus are known to be poisonous, but when grown on nitrogen-rich soils they are known to concentrate nitrates in the leaves.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} This is especially noticeable on land where nitrate fertilizer is used.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://database.prota.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=QBE_QUERY&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdatabase.prota.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=PROTAB~1&QB0=AND&QF0=Species+Code&QI0=Amaranthus+graecizans&RF=Webdisplay PROTAbase on Amaranthus graecizans]
- {{PFAF|Amaranthus graecizans}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q162295}}
Category:Plants described in 1753