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Species
Amaranthus spinosus L.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world; also sporadic in warm temperate areas
"Erect glabrous herbs, profusely branched; branches grooved; spines divaricate, sharp, to 1.2 cm long. Leaves 3-8 x 2-4 cm, ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, base attenuate, apex obtuse or subacute; petiole to 4 cm long. Flowers in terminal panicled spikes or in axillary, sessile clusters. Bracts and bracteoles minute, ovate-lanceolate. Male flowers: 1-2 mm across; tepals 5, calycine, unequal, ovate-lanceolate; stamens 5; anthers sagittate. Female flowers: 1-2 mm across; tepals 5, oblong, acute at apex; ovary 1-celled; ovules solitary; stigmas 2-3. Utricle circumcissile. Seeds minute, discoid."
Root: For toothache. Leaf: Used in compresses in herbal curative baths by the Surinam Saramaccan Bush Negroes.
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Unknown/Undetermined
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Amaranthus+spinosus |
"Abundant near village wastelands, as a weed of cultivation, colonizer on new roads. Plains from the coast to 1500m. Cosmopolitan in the warmer regions of the world, presumed of American origin, in temperate regions."
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Keystone Foundation, India Biodiversity Portal |
| Source | http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32937 |
Uses: Vegetable/potherb
Comments: This potherb possess a fair amount of protein and is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as in minerals. However, it also contains slight amounts of antinutritional factors, especially oxalates and nitrates.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Amaranthus+spinosus |
Global Range: 0-1000 m, 1000-2000 m elevation.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Amaranthus+spinosus |
Fallow lands and wastelands
Indigenous Information: The leaves are cooked and eaten.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Keystone Foundation, India Biodiversity Portal |
| Source | http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32937 |
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Global Distribution
Originally from America; now found throughout the warmer regions of the world
Indian distribution
State - Kerala, District/s: All Districts
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