Thorny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus, Sp. Pl.: 991 (1753))

Family: Amaranthaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 991 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Amaranthus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico to Trop. America

Description

Thorny amaranth, scientifically known as Amaranthus spinosus, is a prominent species within the Amaranthaceae family. First described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, this hardy plant has carved out a significant niche across a broad geographical range.

Amaranthus spinosus is native to the tropical regions of the Americas, with its presence stretching from Mexico throughout Central America and into the warmer climates of South America. Its adaptability to various environments has allowed it to thrive in both disturbed soils and cultivated lands, making it a common sight in agricultural settings and along roadside verges.

One of the distinctive features of Thorny amaranth is its spiny nature, a unique adaptation that sets it apart from other members of the Amaranthus genus. These thorns, which arise from the leaf axils, serve not only as a defensive mechanism against herbivores but also contribute to the plant’s somewhat formidable appearance.

The plant itself is characterized by its erect growth habit, typically reaching heights of up to 1.5 meters. The stems are robust and often tinged with a reddish hue, while the leaves are elongated, lance-shaped, and arranged alternately along the stem. The inflorescence of Amaranthus spinosus is an elongated spike, bearing numerous small, greenish flowers that give rise to the plant’s tiny, black seeds.

While often considered a weed due to its prevalence in agricultural areas, Thorny amaranth also holds various uses within traditional practices. In some cultures, it is harvested for its edible leaves and stems, which are nutritious and can be cooked as a vegetable. Additionally, certain parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for their purported medicinal properties.

Overall, Amaranthus spinosus stands as a resilient and versatile species, embodying both the competitive spirit of a weed and the utilitarian potential of a valuable botanical resource. Its widespread distribution from Mexico to the tropical regions of the Americas underlines its ecological flexibility and enduring legacy within the plant kingdom.

Common Names

Ita: amanranto spinoso
Fra: amarante épineuse, épinard cochon, épinard malabre, épinard piquant, épinard rouge, épinard épineux
Eng: carelessweed, edlebur, needlebur, pigweed, prickly amaranth, prickly calalu, prince-of-wales-feather, spiny amaranth, spiny pigweed, thorny amaranth, thorny pigweed, prickly callaloo
Deu: dorniger amarant, malabarspinat, tamarisken-fuchsschwanz, dorniger fuchsschwanz
Dan: tornet amarant
Heb: yarbuz kotzani, ירבוז קוצני
Spa: bledo espinoso, espinaca de malabar
Por: caruru-bravo, caruru-de-espinho, mastruz
Lav: dzeloņainais amarants
Ces: laskavec trnitý
Swe: taggamarant
Hun: tövises disznóparéj
En: Thorny amaranth, Thorny pigweed, Carelessweed, Prince-of-Wales-feather, Needlebur, Edlebur, Spiny amaranth, Spiny pigweed, Prickly amaranth, Prickly calalu, Pigweed, Prickly Callaloo, Pigweed species, Spiny amaranthus
Af: Doringmisbredie
Zh: Ci xian
Cs: Laskavec trnitý
Da: Tornet amarant
Fi: Piikkirevonhäntä
Fr: Épinard cochon, Épinard malabre, Amarante épineuse, Épinard piquant, Épinard rouge, Épinard épineux, Épinard malarabe, Pariétaire à piquants, Amaranthe épineuse
De: Malabarspinat, Dorniger Fuchsschwanz, Dorniger Amarant, Tamarisken-Fuchsschwanz
He: Yarbuz kotzani, ירבוז קוצני
Hi: Kanta chaulai
Hu: Tövises disznóparéj
It: Amaranto spinoso, Amanranto spinoso
Lv: Dzeloņainais amarants
Mr: Kante math
Pt: Caruru-de-espinho, Caruru-bravo, Mastruz
Pt-br: Bredo-bravo, Bredo-de-espinho, Carurú-bravo, Carurú-de-espinho
Es: Espinaca de Malabar, Bledo espinoso, Quelite espinoso, Bledo
Sv: Taggamarant

Synonyms

• Amaranthus diacanthus (Raf.)
• Amaranthus coracanus (Mart.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. pygmaeus (Hassk.)
• Galliaria spitosa ((L.) Nieuwl.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. rubricaulis (Hassk.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. viridicaulis (Hassk.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. basiscissus (Thell.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. circumscissus (Thell.)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. indehiscens (Thell.)
• Amaranthus caracasanus (Kunth)
• Amaranthus spinosus var. purpurascens (Moq.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Southwest Caribbean (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
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• Gabon (introduced)
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• Georgia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
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• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Gulf States (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
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• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
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• New Zealand North (introduced)
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• Niger (introduced)
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• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
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• Philippines (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
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• Senegal (introduced)
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• Solomon Is. (introduced)
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• Taiwan (introduced)
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• Virginia (introduced)
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• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© 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.

Leaf

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2020 by julien pink (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2021 by Youkpo Barthélemy Oréga (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Dec 12, 2021 by Yo T (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2019 by that’s someguy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 10, 2019 by Arcila Ricardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 29, 2012 by EOL − Andres Hernandez (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)

Fruit

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Gabriele Di Lecce (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Gabriele Di Lecce (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Gabriele Di Lecce (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 7, 2020 by Janardan Saikia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 5, 2011 by Thiago Flores Flores (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2020 by Yokto2Yotta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Daniel H. Janzen (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)

Bark

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Daniel H. Janzen (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 13, 2019 by charles blancher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2021 by Secolin Rodrigo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2020 by Yokto2Yotta (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2021 by Fernando da Luz Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 28, 1996 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Bhaskar Adhikari (cc-by-nc)

Taken Apr 15, 2015 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 5, 2011 by Thiago Flores Flores (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2021 by Ashshahril Labib (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:10711-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5384401)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Amaranthus spinosus L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth