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Amaranthus spinosus
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Family:
AMARANTHACEAE
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Citation: Amaranthus spinosus L., Sp. Pl. 991. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 718. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1170(819). 1925; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 243. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 330. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 313. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 378. 1988; Manilal, Fl. Silent Valley 226. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 335. 1989; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 668. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 387. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 377. 1994; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 295. 1995; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 369. 1996; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 561. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Chinnar WLS 258. 1999; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 255. 2002; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 541. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 407. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 594. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 671. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Cherucheera, Kattumullenkeera, Mullencheera
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Prickly amaranth, Spiny pigweed, Spiny amaranth, Thorny amaranth
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Description:
Erect glabrous herbs, profusely branched; branches grooved; spines divaricate, sharp, to 1.2 cm long. Leaves simple, 3-8 x 2-4 cm, ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, apex obtuse or subacute, base attenuate; 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.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
June-December
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Fallow lands and wastelands
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Distribution:
Originally from America; now found throughout the warmer regions of the world
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Green
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Weed:
Yes
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Vellanimala, Champakkad, Thellickal, Campshed area, Tiruvalla, Bekal, Kannoth, Tolpetty, Walayar, Mayithara, Karimpuzha, Malleswara temple area, Thenmalai, Ariankavu, Attayar
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