Amaranthus hybridus L.

Spice In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: AMARANTHACEAE

Genus: Amaranthus

Catalan common name: Marxant fi.

Spanish common name: Bledo.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Disturbed zones in humid soils.

Characteristics: A small upright plant with more or less rhomboidal shaped leaves, very similar to those of Amaranthus retroflexus, although without the white spot that characterizes this latter species. In contrast, the inflorescence may have an enlarged apical portion in addition to being well branched in the inferior portion. Lives in cultivated fields and torrent beds, generally in slightly wetter places than Amaranthus retroflexus. Originally from the Americas. Flowers during the summer and fall.