Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque. Common name: Seabeach Amaranth, Dwarf Amaranth. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Sea beaches, fore-dunes, island end flats, rarely on sound-side beaches. Distribution: Se. MA south to c. SC; presently known to be extant only from NC, n. SC, e. MD, DE (McAvoy 2002), se. NY (Long Island), VA, and NJ. Since 2000, populations have crashed rangewide.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: Seeds of this plant require cold stratification, high temperatures, and light to germinate (Baskin & Baskin 1998); this is apparently responsible for the late seasonality of the species (germination in late spring and early summer) and its seed-banking. See Hancock & Hosier (2003) for discussion of the ecology of this interesting species.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA4, G, GW2, K4, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Tat, Va, Bayón (2015). Basionym: Amaranthus pumilus Raf. 1808
Links to other floras: = Amaranthus pumilus - FNA4
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Mike Kunz | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Mike Kunz | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Prostrate to ascending, mat-forming annual of sea beaches, fore-dunes, island end flats and, rarely, sound-side beaches.
Stems: Stems fleshy, branching from the base, reddish, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate but clustered toward ends of branches, petiolate, round to oval with decurrent base and shallow notch at the tip, 1/2-3/4 in. long, fleshy, margins slightly wavy, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in conspicuous clusters in leaf axils, reddish-green, minute, with yellow stamens in male flowers protruding at peak flowering.
Fruits: Fruit a shiny black seed surrounded by a dark, wrinkled membrane.
Comments: Larger plants may contain over 100 stems branching from the center, attaining a diameter of more than 3 ft.
Height: 4-10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Prostrate to ascending, mat-forming annual of sea beaches, fore-dunes, island end flats and, rarely, sound-side beaches.
stems: Stems fleshy, branching from the base, reddish, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate but clustered toward ends of branches, petiolate, round to oval with decurrent base and shallow notch at the tip, 1/2-3/4 in. long, fleshy, margins slightly wavy, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in conspicuous clusters in leaf axils, reddish-green, minute, with yellow stamens in male flowers protruding at peak flowering.
fruits: Fruit a shiny black seed surrounded by a dark, wrinkled membrane.
comments: Larger plants may contain over 100 stems branching from the center, attaining a diameter of more than 3 ft.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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