Green amaranth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Green amaranth
Scientific classification
Genus:	Amaranthus
Species:	hybridus
Synonyms
List Amaranthus aureus Moq. Amaranthus batalleri Sennen Amaranthus bellardii Moq. Amaranthus berchtholdii Moq. Amaranthus catechu Moq. Amaranthus caudatus Baker & Clarke Amaranthus chlorostachys Willd. Amaranthus eugenii Sennen Amaranthus flavescens Moq. Amaranthus hecticus Willd. Amaranthus incurvatus Trimen ex Gren. & Gord. Amaranthus intermedius Guss. ex Moq. Amaranthus laetus Willd. Amaranthus laxiflorus Comelli ex Pollini Amaranthus neglectus Moq. Amaranthus nepalensis Moq. Amaranthus paniculatus var. sanguineus Regel Amaranthus patulus f. multispiculatus (Sennen) Priszter Amaranthus patulus var. multispiculatus Sennen Amaranthus pseudoreflexus (Thell.) Almq. Amaranthus quitensis Kunth Amaranthus retroflexus var. chlorostachys A. Gray Amaranthus retroflexus var. hybridus A. Gray Amaranthus retroflexus subsp. quitensis (Kunth) O.Bolòs & Vigo Amaranthus spicatus Rchb. Amaranthus timeroyi Jord. ex Moq. Amaranthus trivialis Rota Galliaria hybrida (L.) Nieuwl.

Amaranthus hybridus, often called green amaranth or smooth pigweed, is a type of flowering plant. It lives for only one year. This plant is very common in North America. It has also spread to Europe and Asia.

About Green Amaranth

What it Looks Like

Amaranthus hybridus

Amaranthus hybridus grows from a short, main root called a taproot. It can grow quite tall, up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet). The plant is usually smooth. This means it has no hairs or only a few hairs on its surface.

Where it Grows

Amaranthus hybridus first grew in eastern North America. It is a pioneer plant, meaning it is one of the first plants to grow in new or disturbed areas. You can find it in almost every state in the United States. It also grows in many parts of Canada, Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and South America.

This plant has spread to many places with warm climates. It can grow in many different environments. This includes places where the ground has been disturbed, like gardens or fields.

How it is Classified

This plant can look very different depending on where it grows. Scientists believe that many other Amaranthus species are actually natural mixes. They might have come from A. hybridus or mixed with it.

Uses of Amaranth

As a Weed

Even though it is easy to control, Amaranthus hybridus is known as a harmful weed. It can grow in farm fields in North America. It competes with crops for water and nutrients. However, farmers can usually remove it without much trouble.

Food and Medicine

The seeds and cooked leaves of Amaranthus hybridus are safe to eat. People have used this plant for food for a long time.

Native American groups used it for both food and medicine. It was also used in traditional African medicine. In Mexican food markets, this plant is one of the species sold as Quelite quintonilli.

See also

In Spanish: Amaranthus viridis para niños