Welcome to Catnapin's

Most Excellent Weed Gallery

Pigweed Family - Amaranth (tall)

                 

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth (Pigweed) family
Carelessweed (Palmer Amaranth) Amaranthus palmeri
The leaves grow opposite each other. Primary flower spike is at the center top and can reach 2 feet long on a stem 5-6 feet long. Smaller spikes grow along stem. Base of plant can be 2" wide. Stems can have red and green stripes.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June-August 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Fisher)

Similar Species

Spiny Amaranth (Prickly Amaranth) Amaranthus spinosus
Similar to Amaranthus palmeri but with longer leaves that are not so diamond shaped. Long flower spikes droop. Small flower clusters have sharp spines at their base. Young leaves and stalks are edible.
(Native of Texas - Coleman, Coke)

                          

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth (Pigweed) family
Roughfruit Amaranth (Tall Waterhemp) Amaranthus tuberculatus
Flowers are in short spikes or in balls on long spike, turn red. Below each flower cluster are stout spines. Small leaves grow on spike, larger leaves below. Branches and leaves are hairless and shiny (unlike other Amaranths). Branches turn red.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2008
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown)

           

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth (Pigweed) family
Sandhill Amaranth Amaranthus arenicola
The leaves grow opposite each other. Primary flower spike is at the center top and can reach 2 feet long on a stem 5-6 feet long. Smaller spikes grow along stem. Base of plant can be 2" wide. Stems can have red and green stripes.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June-August 2004
(Native of Texas - Coke, Fisher)

     

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth (Pigweed) family
Redroot Pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus
The leaves grow opposite each other. Thick flower spike is at the center top.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004
(Introduced, native of Central America, invasive - Taylor, Coke)

Similar Species

Powell's Amaranth Amaranthus powellii
Flower spike, thick and short, rather prickly. Lower leaves are rounded diamonds, to 3 1/2" long. Upper leaves long. Leaves have prominent veins.
(Native of Texas - Brown)

Other Species in My Area

Smooth Amaranth (Red Amaranth, Slim Amaranth) Amaranthus hybridus
Large wide leaves with sharp point. Flower spikes are short, narrow and compact, but with many branches. In fall, stem and seed head turn bright red.
(Introduced, native of eastern North America, intrusive - Taylor, Brown)

Tropical Amaranth Amaranthus polygonoides
Long diamond shaped leaves on a long stem. Flowering spike has many leaves.
(Native of Texas - Brown)