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mat amaranth
Scientific Name: Amaranthus blitoides
Family: Amaranthaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Amaranthus blitoides: Mat Amaranth
Amaranthus blitoides, commonly known as mat amaranth, prostrate pigweed, procumbent pigweed, prostrate amaranth, or matweed, is an annual herb often found growing prostrate along the ground. It's sometimes also referred to as "Doormat" due to its growth habit.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant grows prostrate.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson
- Common Names: Mat amaranth, Prostrate pigweed, Creeping amaranth, Matweed
- Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family, also known as the Pigweed family)
- Subclass: Caryophyllidae
- Order: Caryophyllales
- Genus: Amaranthus (pigweed)
- Synonyms: Amaranthus graecizans, A. silvestris, A. thellungianus, A blitoides var blitoides
Distribution and Habitat
- Amaranthus blitoides is native to California but is also found in other locations.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is a glabrous annual plant.
- It typically grows to a height of 0.2 meters (approximately 8 inches) and a width of 0.3 meters (approximately 1 foot).
- It is an annual herb, a dicot, that is low-growing.
Growth Habits
- It is considered frost tender.
- Leaves appear around April 10th.
- Flowering occurs from August to September.
Edible Uses
- The leaves of mat amaranth are edible and can be eaten raw. The seeds are also edible.
Related Information
- Mat amaranth can be a source of allergies in certain regions.