Livid amaranth (Amaranthus blitum, Sp. Pl.: 990 (1753))

Family: Amaranthaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 990 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Amaranthus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Peru to Brazil and N. Argentina

Description

Livid amaranth, scientifically known as Amaranthus blitum, is a species of plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. The first formal description of this plant was provided by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum,” published in 1753.

Native to a vast geographical range, the Livid amaranth can be found from Peru to Brazil and extending down to northern Argentina. This wide distribution suggests a high level of adaptability, allowing it to thrive in various climates and soil conditions within this region.

Amaranthus blitum is typically recognized by its leafy appearance and characteristic flowers. The leaves are often a rich green color, providing a stark contrast to the plant’s small, less conspicuous flowers. These flowers are typically grouped in dense clusters, forming at the tops of the stems or in the leaf axils.

Livid amaranth is often utilized for its nutritional properties. It is valued as a leafy vegetable in various cultures where it is consumed both cooked and raw. Its nutritional benefits include being a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as minerals such as iron and calcium.

The plant has also found traditional medicinal uses across its native regions. It has been leveraged in various herbal treatments, believed by local communities to offer benefits such as anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. However, these traditional uses should be approached with caution and ideally under the guidance of knowledgeable practitioners.

Ecologically, Livid amaranth plays a role in its native habitats by providing food and shelter to various insects and small animals. Its presence in agricultural fields is sometimes seen as a weed, though its resilience and adaptability also make it a symbol of nature’s tenacity.

Overall, Amaranthus blitum or Livid amaranth is a plant of significant ecological, nutritional, and cultural importance, stretching through a considerable part of South America. It symbolizes both the challenges posed by resilient weed species and the culinary and medicinal potentials it offers to the communities within its native range.

Common Names

Deu: aufsteigender amarant, bleifarbiger amarant, aufsteigender fuchsschwanz
Spa: espinaca china, bledo
Eng: guernsey pigweed, purple amaranth, least amaranth, livid amaranth, slender amaranth, pigweed
Dan: plet-amarant
Fra: amarante livide, amarante blette, amarante blite
Por: caruru
Nld: kleine majer
Swe: mållamarant
Cym: blodyn amor guernsey
En: Livid amaranth, Guernsey pigweed, Purple amaranth, Slender amaranth, Least amaranth, Pigweed, Wild Amaranth, Mediterranean amaranth
Ar: أمارنثون
Zh: Ao tou xian
Da: Plet-amarant
Nl: Kleine majer
Fr: Amarante livide, Amarante blette, Amarante blite, Amarante bleuâtre, Amarante africaine, Amarante des bois, Amarante sylvestre, Amarante échancrée
De: Aufsteigender Amarant, Aufsteigender Fuchsschwanz, Bleifarbiger Amarant, Bläulicher Amarant
He: ירבוז מבריק
It: Amaranto livido
Pt: Caruru
Es: Bledo, Espinaca china, Bledo lívido
Sv: Mållamarant
Cy: Blodyn Amor Guernsey

Synonyms

• Amaranthus graecizans var. blitum ((L.) Kuntze)
• Euxolus blitum ((L.) Gren.)
• Glomeraria blitum ((L.) Cav.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
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• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
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• West Siberia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jun 1, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2018 by Frédéric Lamblin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 15, 2020 by Vásquez Gonzalez Marycarmen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2018 by wudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 5, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Jacques Maréchal (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Dec 2, 2019 by Tamara (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 5, 2019 by Gabriel Alves (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2017 by Margot Martin (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 7, 2021 by Rezende Dydimo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2020 by Kyle Grubb (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2020 by julien noel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 4, 2022 by P. Sonja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2022 by jonawel (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Lars Mannzen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Sneha Sahu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Michel ROUGÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 21, 2020 by Nicole Deiminger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Lazaregagnidze (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2009 by EOL − Luigi Rignanese (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 27, 2021 by dominici canela osvaldodom (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2001 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Sep 20, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Claude BOUZAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jacques Maréchal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jacques Maréchal (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:10619-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/8911082)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Amaranthus blitum L.)

Specifications

Growth