Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Amaranthus powellii S. Watson
(Powell's Amaranth)


Family: Amaranthaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Amaranthus bouchonii Thell.
Amaranthus powellii subsp. bouchonii (Thell.) Costea & Carretero

Amaranthus powellii is an erect annual herb with flowers subtended by spine-tipped bracts. The panicles of flowers can be either axillary or terminal. The stems can be reddish while the inflorescence is green. It is monoecious, with staminate and carpellate flowers on the same inflorescence. The utricles are dehiscent (circumscissile). There are 5 tepals per flower and the aristate (needle-like) bracts are 5mm or more in length. The inflorescence is stiff and upright. A. powellii is a native but a yard weed in our area.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Amaranthus powellii, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., CF Cyn., June 5, 2007



Amaranthus powellii, habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 9, 2022



Amaranthus powellii, carpellate and staminate flowers next to each other on same inflorescence (monoecious plant), photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 9, 2022



Amaranthus powellii, tepals, bracts, utricles and lids, seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 9, 2022



Amaranthus powellii, 5 tepals per flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 9, 2022



Amaranthus powellii, vessel elements in root longitudinal section, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 9, 2022


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