Watson's amaranth facts for kids

Amaranthus watsonii is a type of plant called an amaranth. It is often known by its common name, Watson's amaranth. This plant is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Watson's amaranth usually grows in sandy places. You can find it in deserts, on beaches, and in areas where the ground has been disturbed. It is also sometimes found in parts of Europe, but it is not originally from there. This means it is a rare introduced species in those areas.

What Watson's Amaranth Looks Like

Watson's amaranth is an annual plant. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It grows straight up, like a tall stalk. Its stem can reach a height of about one meter, which is about three feet tall.

The stem has tiny hairs on it that might feel a bit sticky. These are called glandular hairs. The leaves of the plant are usually oval-shaped. They can grow up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which connects the leaf to the main stem. This petiole can be up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) long.

How Watson's Amaranth Reproduces

Watson's amaranth is a special kind of plant because it is dioecious. This means that some plants are male and produce only male flowers, while other plants are female and produce only female flowers. For new seeds to be made, pollen from a male plant needs to reach a female plant.

The flowers of Watson's amaranth grow in a long, spiky cluster. This cluster of flowers is called an inflorescence. Mixed in with the flowers are spiny, green, and sticky leaf-like parts called bracts.

After the female flowers are pollinated, they develop small fruits. Each fruit is a smooth, round seed pod, about 2 millimeters long. When the fruit is ready, it snaps in half. Inside, you will find a small, shiny seed. These seeds are usually reddish-black in color.