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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

California Amaranth
Amaranthus californicus (Moq.) S. Wats.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Pigweed (Amaranthaceae)
Flowering: July-October
Field Marks: This much branched species lies flat on the ground. Its flowers are in small, axillary clusters. Each female flower has only one sepal.
Habitat: Moist mud or sand flats.
Habit: Mat-forming annual herb with a taproot.
Stems: Lying flat on the ground, much branched, forming mats up to 1 1/2 feet across, often tinged with red.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, spatulate to obovate, up to 3/4 inch long, pale green, often with a white border, smooth; leaf stalks slender, up to 3/4 inch long.
Flowers: Male and female flowers borne separately but on the same plant in small axillary clusters; bracts lanceolate, slender-tipped, about 1/24 inch long.
Sepals: 2 or 3 in the male flowers, free from each other, lanceolate, greenish; 1 in the female flower, about 1/24 inch long.
Petals: 0.
Stamens: 1-2.
Pistils: Ovary superior.
Fruits: Nearly spherical, red or purple, up to 1/16 inch in diameter; seeds round, red brown.

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:27:35 EST
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