Code
AMALP
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Albersia arenaria Schur |
| synonym | Albersia ascendens Fourr. |
| synonym | Albersia blitum Kunth |
| synonym | Albersia livida Kunth |
| synonym | Amaranthus adscendens auct. |
| synonym | Amaranthus albus Rodschied ex F.Dietr. |
| synonym | Amaranthus alius K.Krause |
| synonym | Amaranthus ascendens Loisel. |
| synonym | Amaranthus berchtoldii Seidl ex Opiz |
| synonym | Amaranthus blitonius St.-Lag. |
| synonym | Amaranthus blitum var. ascendens (Loisel.) DC. |
| synonym | Amaranthus blitum var. polygonoides Moq. |
| synonym | Amaranthus diffusus Dulac. |
| synonym | Amaranthus graecizans var. blitum (L.) Kuntze |
| synonym | Amaranthus lividus Hook.f. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Amaranthus lividus L. |
| synonym | Amaranthus lividus subsp. ascendens (Loisel.) Wacht. |
| synonym | Amaranthus lividus subsp. lividus |
| synonym | Amaranthus lividus var. polygonoides (Moq.) Thell. |
| synonym | Amaranthus minor Gray |
| synonym | Amaranthus mucronatus Poir. |
| synonym | Amaranthus oleraceus L. |
| synonym | Amaranthus oleraceus Rodschied |
| synonym | Amaranthus pallidus M.Bieb. |
| synonym | Amaranthus polygonoides Zoll. ex Moq. [Invalid] |
| synonym | Amaranthus prostratus T.Bastard [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Amaranthus ruderalis Koch ex Moq. |
| synonym | Amaranthus tenuiflorus Fisch. ex Moq. |
| synonym | Amaranthus viridis All. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Blitum maius Scop. |
| synonym | Euxolus alius (E.H.L.Krause) E.H.L.Krause |
| synonym | Euxolus ascendens (Loisel.) H.Hara |
| synonym | Glomeraria blitum (L.) Cav. |
🗒 Common Names
| Comorian |
|
| Créole Maurice |
|
| Créole Réunion |
|
| Créole Seychelles |
|
| English |
|
| French |
|
| Italian |
|
| Malgache |
|
| Portuguese |
|
| Spanish; Castilian |
|
📚 Overview
Description
Cotyledons
The cotyledons are lanceolate to linear, stalked. Lamina 15 mm long and 3 mm wide. It is smooth, without conspicuous venation.
First leaves
The first leaves are simple, alternate, and long-stalked. The leaf blade is oval to orbicular, indented and mucronulate at the apex.
General habit
It is an herbaceous plant with decumbent or prostrate branches, which are very variable in size. It is 6 to 60 cm high.
Underground system
The plant has a taproot system
Stem
The stem is solid, grooved, more or less angular, green to reddish or yellow, almost glabrous or slightly hairy (hairs from one to a few cells).
Leaf
The leaves are simple, alternate. They are held by a petiole, up to 10 cm long, often longer than the blade. It is oval to obovate, 1 to 4 cm long and 0.6 to 2 cm wide, shortly angled at the base, usually wide at the top and distinctly notched, mucronate. Faces are glabrous or more rarely have short scattered hairs near the base, on the main veins of the lower face. The margin is whole, often wavy.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is spiciform, slender or stout, terminal or axillary, rarely paniculate, consisting of very small flowers of green color. The false terminal spikes are 0.6 to 11 cm long and 0.3 to 2 cm in diameter, while the basal axillary inflorescences form dense glomerules, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Flower
Male and female flowers are mixed, formed of bracts and triangular bracteoles to oval or narrowly oval, whitish, membranous, with short reddish to yellow mucro. The bracts are shorter than the perianth or, more rarely, almost equal. Tepals of female flowers measure 0.75 to 2 mm long.
Fruit
The fruit is a subspherical to slightly piriform capsule with a bifid apex, compressed, exceeding the perianth, 1.25 to 2.5 mm long, usually quite smooth but sometimes wrinking when drying, indehiscent or rip irregularly at maturity.
Seed
The seed is spherical, compressed, 1 to 1.75 mm in diameter, dark brown or black in coour, the center lightly crosslinked and shiny, the border more dull , finely punctuated or rough above the reticulation.
Global description
Amaranthus blitum is prostrate or erect at the ends, 6 to 60 cm high, with a slender to stout stem, ribbed, glabrous, simple or highly branched from the base. The leaves are rhomboid or oval, wide angled at the base, largely indented at the apex, often marked with a light or dark spot at the upper side. The edge is sometimes wavy. The flowers are green, grouped in spikes, slender or sturdy, terminals or at the base of the leaves. The fruits are sub spherical capsules, compressed, usually quite smooth, indehiscent, but it sometimes wrinkles when dry.Cotyledons
The cotyledons are lanceolate to linear, stalked. Lamina 15 mm long and 3 mm wide. It is smooth, without conspicuous venation.
First leaves
The first leaves are simple, alternate, and long-stalked. The leaf blade is oval to orbicular, indented and mucronulate at the apex.
General habit
It is an herbaceous plant with decumbent or prostrate branches, which are very variable in size. It is 6 to 60 cm high.
Underground system
The plant has a taproot system
Stem
The stem is solid, grooved, more or less angular, green to reddish or yellow, almost glabrous or slightly hairy (hairs from one to a few cells).
Leaf
The leaves are simple, alternate. They are held by a petiole, up to 10 cm long, often longer than the blade. It is oval to obovate, 1 to 4 cm long and 0.6 to 2 cm wide, shortly angled at the base, usually wide at the top and distinctly notched, mucronate. Faces are glabrous or more rarely have short scattered hairs near the base, on the main veins of the lower face. The margin is whole, often wavy.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is spiciform, slender or stout, terminal or axillary, rarely paniculate, consisting of very small flowers of green color. The false terminal spikes are 0.6 to 11 cm long and 0.3 to 2 cm in diameter, while the basal axillary inflorescences form dense glomerules, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Flower
Male and female flowers are mixed, formed of bracts and triangular bracteoles to oval or narrowly oval, whitish, membranous, with short reddish to yellow mucro. The bracts are shorter than the perianth or, more rarely, almost equal. Tepals of female flowers measure 0.75 to 2 mm long.
Fruit
The fruit is a subspherical to slightly piriform capsule with a bifid apex, compressed, exceeding the perianth, 1.25 to 2.5 mm long, usually quite smooth but sometimes wrinking when drying, indehiscent or rip irregularly at maturity.
Seed
The seed is spherical, compressed, 1 to 1.75 mm in diameter, dark brown or black in coour, the center lightly crosslinked and shiny, the border more dull , finely punctuated or rough above the reticulation.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
Madagascar : A. blitum is an early, fast-growing species that quickly sets seed before harvest in almost all rainfed crops.
Morocco: Amaranthus blitum flowers and fruits from May to November.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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Reproduction
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Amaranthus blitum is an annual plant. It is propagated by seeds. These are dispersed by water or birds.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Morphology
Growth form
Erected
Prostrated
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Type of prefoliation
Broad leaves
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Round
Ridged or grooved
Root type
Taproot
Hollow or solid stem
Solid stem
Stipule type
No stipule
Leaf attachment type
with petiole
Fruit type
Capsule splitting horizontally
Capsule
Cotyledon type
linear
truncate
Lamina base
rounded
Lamina margin
undulate
entire
Lamina apex
mucronate
emarginate
Upperface pilosity
Glabrous
Lowerface pilosity
Glabrous
Simple leaf type
Lamina elliptic
Lamina section
embossed
Lamina Veination
in arc
Flower color
Brown
Green
White
Inflorescence type
Spike
Raceme with alternate sessile flowers
Stem pilosity
Glabrous
Less hairy
Stem hair type
Pubescent
Life form
Broadleaf plant
Look Alikes
Key for Amaranthus
| Prostrate growth habit | A. blitum | |||
| Erect growth habit | a pair of spines on the axils of the leaves | A. spinosus | ||
| No spines | Leaves is about 10 to 20 cm | A. hybridus | ||
| Leaves about 10 cm | Flower of 3 tepals | A. viridis | ||
| Flower of 5 tepals | A. dubius | |||
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Ecology
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Brazil: Amaranthus blitum occurs particularly in the south-eastern region.
Comoros: ruderal species, present in newly cleared fields.
Madagascar: Amaranthus blitum is a widespread ruderal species in Upland regions, West, East and North-West of the island. It grows on ferralitic soils, ferruginous soils and fairly rich alluvium grounds in sunny or slightly shady areas. It is found along the roads and around houses, and it is a weed of rainfed cultures in all humid and sub-humid areas of Madagascar in cultures of maize and in cultures of vegetables in semi-intensive system with input of organic manure
Mauritius: Weed very common in vegetable crops in the three agro-climatic zones of Mauritius; it also occurs on roadsides and in vacant lots.
Morocco: Amaranthus blitum is a nitrophilous species, common in crops, wasteland and damp, ruderalized areas.
Reunion: Species commonly found in ruderal and cultures all over the island up to 1000 m altitude. It prefers rich soils.
Seychelles: weed of vegetable crops.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Worldwide distribution
It is present in tropical Africa, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia.
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Reunion Island
Mauritius
Seychelles
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Origin
Species native to the Mediterranean region.Worldwide distribution
It is present in tropical Africa, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
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Local harmfulness
Brazil: Amaranhus blitum is a common weed in gardens and crops.
Comoros: Amaranthus blitum is a weed which is very abundant in vegetable crops and able to stifle the young crops when weeding is delayed.
Madagascar: A. blitum is a weed which is infrequent and not abundant in crops. It can be relatively abundant in vegetable cultivations in suburban areas where weeding by hands is practically the only mean of control used.
Mauritius: It is a very important weed with a strong aggressiveness in most vegetable crops; it can also act as a host plant for certain insect pests. It is practically absent in sugarcane.
Morocco: Amaranthus blitum is a common weed in field crops on the Atlantic coast.
Reunion: common weed, encountered in 30% of the parcels cultivated in all types of crops (sugar cane, vegetables, pineapple, lentils). It is generally scarce, but it has been observed in some situations with over 70% cover of the plot.
Seychelles: Locally abundant and troublesome in young vegetables.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
Medicinal: A. blitum is also used in traditional medicine to treat certain gastric diseases.
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Food: flour is made from the seeds; the leaves and young stems are used as vegetable, rich in vitamins, proteins and other nutrients.
Feeding: Can be browsed by goats.Medicinal: A. blitum is also used in traditional medicine to treat certain gastric diseases.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Management
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Local control
Comoros: Easy to remove, weeding of Amaranthus blitum is done manually.
Madagascar: In Madagascar farmers practice manual weeding (in nurseries and market gardens) and manual weeding with angady in rainfed crops (corn, cotton, beans).
Mauritius: The control is done by manual weeding or hoeing.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
References
- CAVACO A. 1954 Flore de Madagascar, fasc.67 AMARANTHACEES, 56 pages
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:953892-1
- The World Flora Online http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000530085
- Bosser, J., Fergusson, I.K. & Soopramanien, C. Mult. an. Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, MSIRI, IRD, Kew.
- Kissmann, K.G. & Groth, D. 1992. Plantas Infestantes e Nocivas. Tomo II. Sao Paulo.
- Flora Maroccana (Dobignard A.) https://www.floramaroccana.fr/amaranthus-blitum.html
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
Information Listing > References
- CAVACO A. 1954 Flore de Madagascar, fasc.67 AMARANTHACEES, 56 pages
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:953892-1
- The World Flora Online http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000530085
- Bosser, J., Fergusson, I.K. & Soopramanien, C. Mult. an. Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues, MSIRI, IRD, Kew.
- Kissmann, K.G. & Groth, D. 1992. Plantas Infestantes e Nocivas. Tomo II. Sao Paulo.
- Flora Maroccana (Dobignard A.) https://www.floramaroccana.fr/amaranthus-blitum.html
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cirad. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
Images
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Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Amaranthus%2520blitum
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus | Amaranthus |
| Species | Amaranthus blitum L. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
