Amaranthus albus L.

Erect, much-branched, annual glabrous or glabrate herb to c. 50 cm high. Branches whitish, divaricate to ascending, angular. Lvs shortly petiolate, or petiole to 1.5 cm long. Lamina (3)–5–20–(30) × (1)–2–10–(15) mm, elliptic-obovate or nearly so; veins prominently raised below; margin undulate; base narrow-cuneate or attenuate; apex obtuse to rounded and mucronate. Infl. green, an axillary cluster of few fls, occurring in nearly all lf axils. Bracteoles 3–4.5 mm long, lanceolate-subulate, spine-tipped, prominently folded and keeled. Tepals (2)–3, 1–1.3 mm long, oblong to lanceolate. Fr. broadly ellipsoid to subglobular, from < to > tepals, circumscissile around the middle, slightly rugose. Seed c. 1 mm diam., globular, dark brown.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Mar.