Common Name: redroot amaranth, redroot pigweed
Plant Family: Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family
Identifying Characteristics: Small, yellow-green flowers in a terminal spike. Plants rarely branching and slightly hairy, at least near flowers. Plants often have red stems or red venation in stems.
Related Species: The amaranth family contains many beautiful ornamental cultivars (cultivated varieties), as well as the edible plants quinoa, beets, spinach, and chard. It also contains a number of other roadside weeds, including the nearly ubiquitous kochia.
Duration: Herbaceous annual
Habit: Upright
Successional status: Early successional species. This species grows quickly on recently abandoned or disturbed areas, but is usually out-competed once longer-lived plants establish.
Denver Native: No. While it is native to the tropical Americas, it has been widely introduced throughout North America, and the rest of the world.
Weedy: Yes. Though it is an annual, it seeds prolifically, and it's seeds are viable after long periods of dormancy. However, it does not compete well with established plants.
Useful or Beautiful: Due to its veiny look and humble green flowers, few would argue that this plant is beautiful. Young leaves can be edible, but older plants are tough and spiny, and can accumulate toxic levels of nitrates, especially in areas that have been fertilized in the past.
Control Methods: The best offense is a good defense. This plant does not establish well in areas of healthy vegetation. Once it is established, hand pulling, herbicides, and tilling are all effective methods of control.
For more information: Check out this plant on USDA plants or the US Forest Service Database.
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