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prostrate pigweed
Scientific Name: Amaranthus albus
Family: Amaranthaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Prostrate Pigweed
Prostrate pigweed is a mat-forming summer annual weed often found in thin, damaged, or under-fertilized lawns and areas with disturbed soils.
Considerations for Pets
- Prostrate pigweed forms a low, spreading mat.
- Some pigweed species are known to grow in waterways.
- The rather succulent stems are rather terete, smooth
Considerations for Children
- Prostrate pigweed forms a low, spreading mat.
- Some pigweed species are known to grow in waterways.
- The rather succulent stems are rather terete, smooth
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Several species are mentioned, including Amaranthus blitoides S. Wats., Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus retroflexus and Amaranthus albus L.
- Common Names: Prostrate pigweed, tumble pigweed, tumbleweed, pigweed amaranth, white amaranth, white pigweed, mat amaranth, and spreading amaranth.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
- Amaranthus retroflexus is also known as red-root amaranth and redroot pigweed.
- Synonyms: The text indicates that Amaranthus albus redirects to "Prostrate pigweed," suggesting they are sometimes used interchangeably.
Distribution and Habitat
- Prostrate pigweed is a native plant.
- It's found in areas with disturbed soils, gardens, waterways, roadsides, waste areas, orchards, and cropland.
- It is naturalized in parts of southern Canada.
- Amaranthus albus is common in Arizona.
Ecological Role
- Prostrate pigweed is described as an invasive weed.
- It invades thin, damaged or under-fertilized lawns.
Morphological Characteristics
- Prostrate pigweed forms a low, spreading mat.
- Leaf blades are generally oval-to-diamond shaped, and 2–6 inches long.
- It is a summer annual with branched stems up to 2 feet long and more or less prostrate.
- Stems are succulent.
- Leaves are alternate and pale green to shiny, dark green, oblong
- Prostrate stems radiate in all directions from a central taproot.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The seeds of Amaranthus albus are a food source for doves, quail, and other birds in Arizona.
Further Information
- Rutgers NJAES has images of Prostrate Pigweed.