Tropical Amaranth

Tropical Amaranth

Amaranthus polygonoides L.

Amaranthaceae, the Pigweed Family

▲ mature plant

▲ ▼ flowering stems

▲ stem tip

▲ leaves, showing whitish watermark near leaftip

Amaranthus polygonoides L.; Tropical Amaranth:

Warm-season annual weed with upright to spreading growth habit with branching in lower half of plant; stems usually green, not pinkish
Leaves alternate, medium to dark green, spoon to spatula-shaped, with veins indented from upper surface; leaf margins smooth; leaf tips rounded to round-pointed; sometimes lighter-colored, v-shaped watermark on upper surface of leaf near widest part
Inflorescences in clusters in axils of leaves; individual flowers tiny, greenish
Found in cultivated fields, disturbed soils, often along irrigation or drainage canals; more common in southern midwest

(Posted January 15, 2019)