Amaranthus blitum

Das, Saubhik & Iamonico, Duilio, 2014, Amaranthus bengalense (Amaranthaceae) a new species from India, with taxonomical notes on A. blitum aggregate, Phytotaxa 181 (5), pp. 293-300 : 297

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.181.5.4
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6033BB10-FFFC-FF81-FF3E-BF81FC6A2BBF
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Amaranthus blitum
status

Treatment

Amaranthus blitum View in CoL L. var. oleraceus (L.) Hooker filius (1885: 721)

Basionym: Amaranthus oleraceus Linnaeus (1763: 1403) View in CoL .

Type (lectotype designated by Filias et al. 1980: 150): — ASIA, Habitat in India, Herb. Linnaeus No. 1117.13 ( LINN!, image of the lectotype available at http://linnean-online.org/11639/)

≡ Amaranthus lividus View in CoL proles oleraceus View in CoL (L.) Thellung (1914: 321).

≡ Amaranthus blitum subsp. oleraceus View in CoL (L.) Costea (in Costea et al. 2001 b: 984).

Description:—Herbs 2.5–9.0 dm tall, monoecious, annual (therophyte), often cultivated. Stem erect, glabrous, green to brown, branched. Leaves green, ovate-rhomboid (8.0–10.0 × 6.0–7.0 cm), mucronate, petioled (petiole as long as or shorter than the blade), margin entire, base cuneate. Synflorescences arranged in terminal spike-like, and in axillary glomerules. Bracts ovate [(1.4–)2.0–2.1(–2.5) × 0.8–1.0 mm)], as long as or shorter (⅓−½) than the perianth, membranous, with acute to acuminate tip. Staminate flowers with 3 tepals, usually ovate; stamens 3, shorter than tepals. Pistillate flowers with 3 equal or subequal tepals, oblong-lanceolate to spathulate (1.5–2.5 mm long), membranous with acute apex; stigma 3. Fruit reddish-brown, compressed subglobose (1.8–2.8 mm long), longer than the perianth, usually smooth, indehiscent. Seed broadly lenticular, black, with smooth surface, 1.2–1.8(–1.9) mm in diameter.

Distribution:— It occurs (especially as vegetable) all over India, especially in hot humid tropics of India.

Ecology:— It is cultivated but also escape from cultivation as weed. Flower time is May−June.

Selected specimen examined: — GREECE. Attica: in valle Cephissi prope Athenas, in hortis oleraceis, September−October 1891, sine coll. [sub Euxolus viridis (L.) Moq.], rev. A. Cacciato (sub A. ascendens Lois. ), rev. D. Iamonico (RO). INDIA. Maharashtra: Pune, Lonavala, 29 May 1964, Reddi (CAL); Khandesh, 6 March 1957, Mahajan (CAL). West Bengal: Jalpaiguri, 22 February 1975, Sirka (CAL). ITALY. Piemonte: Torino, Corso Inghilterra, roadsides, 09 August 2007, leg. Tisi, det. Iamonico (TO).