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(Last Modified On 1/25/2013)
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(Last Modified On 1/25/2013)
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Species
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AMARANTHUS CALIFORNICUS (Moq.) S. Wats.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Bot. Calif. 2:42. 1880.
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Synonym
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Mengea californica Moq. in DC. Prodr. 132:270. 1849. Amaranthus carneus Greene, in Pittonia 2:105. 1890. Amaranteu-s albo-marginatus Uline & Bray, in Bot. Gaz. 19:318. 1894.
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Description
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Prostrate, radially spreading delicate annuals, the branches to as much as 5 dm. long, often tinged with anthocyanins. Leaves glabrous, bullate, entire, often white-margined, ovate to obovate and spatulate, apically emarginate to rounded and mucronate, basally attenuate, 3-25 mm. long, 2-12 mm. broad, the petioles 3-25 mm. long. Flowers in axillary, often leafy, few-flowered clusters, with every node often bearing an inflorescence, these ultimately shorter than the petioles. Flowers monoecious; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate, apically aristate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long; sepals 3 and quite unequal, or 1-2 in the pistillate flowers, linear to lanceolate, acute to obtuse, 0.4-1.0 mm. long; sepals of the staminate flowers 3, subequal; stamens 2, discrete, ca. 1 mm. long; ovary ellipsoid, the stigmata 3, ca. as long as the ovary at anthesis. Fruit a utricle, circurnscissile about the middle, rugose, 1-1.5 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. broad; seeds cochleate-orbiculate, dark reddish-brown, lustrous, minutely pebbled, 0.8-1.1 mm. broad.
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Specimen
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PANAMA: abandoned corral, San Jose Island, Perlas Archipelago, Gulf of Panama, ca. 55 mi. sse. of Balboa, Johnston 1151.
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Note
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Although the cited specimen was labeled as A. albus L., the prostrate habit, few stamens, and reduced sepals in the pistillate flowers clearly separate it from that species. The small seeds and rugulose utricles also serve to separate it from A. blitoides S. Wats., a very closely related prostrate species.
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