prostrate pigweed

Prostrate pigweed – Amaranthus blitoides

Amaranthus blitoides S. Wats.

Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Prostrate, mat-forming summer annual.

Leaves

Alternate and pale green to shiny, darkgreen leaves are oblong, oval to egg-shapedwith pointed, rounded to slightly indentedleaf tips. Leaf margins are smooth and usuallywhitish. Leaves are numerous at the stem ends.

Stems

Prostrate and nearly smooth, light green to red-dish stems form thick, circular mats. Stems may be 1 to 3 feet long and mostly erect at the tip.

Flowers and fruit

Small, greenish flowers are found in dense clusters in the leaf axils. Flowers have bracts as long as the sepals and yield small, round, shiny black seeds.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Prostrate pigweed stem
Prostrate pigweed stem
Prostrate pigweed flowers
Prostrate pigweed flowers
Prostrate pigweed seedlings
Prostrate pigweed seedlings

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