Amaranthus spinosus L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambian bank, Katombora, Zambezi

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Description:	Annual herb, mostly erect, up to 1.5 m. Leaves glabrous or with sparse hairs on the main veins below, long petiolate, up to 9 cm. The leaf axils bear pairs of fine and slender spines. Flowers green in axillary clusters and branched terminal spikes. Male flowers in the apical part of the spikes.
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Derivation of specific name:	spinosus: spiny
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Worldwide distribution:	Throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world; also sporadic in warm temperate areas
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 16. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 21. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 21. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 195. Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 48 - 52. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 28. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Botswana: Amaranthus spinosus
Flora of Caprivi: Amaranthus spinosus
Flora of Malawi: Amaranthus spinosus
Flora of Mozambique: Amaranthus spinosus
Flora of Zambia: Amaranthus spinosus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Amaranthus spinosus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Amaranthus spinosus
African Plant Database: Amaranthus spinosus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Amaranthus spinosus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Amaranthus spinosus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Amaranthus spinosus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Amaranthus spinosus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Amaranthus spinosus
JSTOR Plant Science: Amaranthus spinosus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Amaranthus spinosus
Plants of the World Online: Amaranthus spinosus
Tropicos: Amaranthus spinosus
Wikipedia: Amaranthus spinosus