Smooth amaranth

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hybrid amaranth
• smooth amaranth
• smooth pigweed
• Green Amaranth
• Green Pigweed
• slim amaranth
• spleen amaranth
• wild cabbage
• Amaranth pigweed
• Red Amaranth
• pigweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Galliaria hybrida
• Amaranthus chlorostachys var. hybridus
• Amaranthus retroflexus var. hybridus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is specifically nested in the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its scientific designation places it within the genus Amaranthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Its geographical distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It can also be found growing in the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is documented throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends northward to include the territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amaranthus hybridus is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from low-lying areas to high-altitude terrains. It occupies a broad elevational range, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2700 m AMSL, with an average elevation of approximately 1016.67 m AMSL. This species thrives in various ecological niches, demonstrating a high tolerance for different landscape types including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), campinarana, open fields (Campo Limpo), rocky fields (Campo Rupestre), and cerrado landscapes (Carrasco). This wide distributional breadth across multiple habitats and significant altitudinal gradients underscores its ability to colonize both disturbed human-influenced sites and specialized natural ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1016.66666666667 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campinarana, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco

Genetics

The genetics of Amaranthus hybridus are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that reflects its evolutionary history and polyploid nature. The species exhibits significant genomic plasticity, as evidenced by its varying chromosome numbers, which include $2n = 17, 24, \text{ and } 32$. This chromosomal diversity suggests a high degree of variation within populations, likely resulting from different levels of polyploidy or aneuploidy. Such genetic variability plays a crucial role in the plant's ability to adapt to diverse environmental stressors and contributes to the complex inheritance patterns observed in its morphological and physiological traits.

Chromosome number :

17, 24, 32

Life history

The life history of Amaranthus hybridus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become suitable for rapid growth. In terms of its physical structure and seasonal behavior, it exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as the life cycle concludes or environmental stressors increase. This combination of an annual life cycle and a therophytic life form ensures efficient colonization of disturbed or open habitats through prolific seed dispersal.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Amaranthus hybridus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting in its growth habit, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variability in plant height, with minimum measurements recorded at 0.15 m, a mean height of approximately 0.575 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 4.36 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4.36 m

Plant height mean:

0.575 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amaranthus hybridus is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows the plant to optimize carbon fixation and thrive in various environmental conditions. Morphologically, the plant features an alternate leaf arrangement, with individual leaves displaying an elliptic form. These leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a minimum leaf length of 2 cm reaching a maximum of 21.5 cm, and a leaf width ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining a mean width of 4.8 cm. In terms of nutritional strategies, the species is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient uptake to support its metabolic processes.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

21.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.8 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amaranthus hybridus is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproduction system, with asexual reproduction being notably absent and self-fertilization also recorded as absent. The plant produces a paniculate inflorescence, which typically ranges in length from 0.015 m to 0.09 m. Flowering begins in July and extends through October. The individual flowers are small, with lengths varying between 0.15 cm and 0.25 cm. Pollination is achieved through an abiotic syndrome, specifically via wind. Following fertilization, the plant produces dry, dehiscence-type fruits that range from 0.12 cm to 0.3 cm in length. These fruits are highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are minute, characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.00053427275 g (ranging from 0.00024 g to 0.00265 g), a mean width of 1.2 mm, and a length between 0.8 mm and 1.3 mm. The seed volume is consistently measured at 3.6 mm³. Regarding dispersal, the species utilizes an unspecialized syndrome, though it is also noted for anthropochory, meaning dispersal is often facilitated by human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower length max:

0.25 cm

Flower length min:

0.15 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.12 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.09 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.015 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1.3 mm

Seed length min:

0.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00265 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00053427275 g

Seed mass min:

0.00024 g

Seed volume max:

3.6 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Amaranthus hybridus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Seed

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Chemicals

Amaranthus hybridus has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-PHENYLETHENAMINE, Amaranthussaponin I, CHLOROGENIC ACID, RUTIN, Trigonelline.

2-PHENYLETHENAMINE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Amaranthussaponin I

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Trigonelline

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

alanine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

betaine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

formate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

fumarate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

kynurenine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Amaranthus hybridus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, diabetes mellitus, malaria.

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Diabetes mellitus

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Amaranthus hybridus has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% methanol and n-hexane extracts.

80% methanol and n-hexane extracts

1. Tropical medicine and health