Amaranthus greggii
Family: Amaranthaceae
Plant Description: Annual with thick succulent prostrate or upright stems to 1 meter or longer. May be sparsely hairy or hairless. Leaves ovate to oval or oblong, 1.2 – 4 cm long, alternate, hick and fleshy Flowers in terminal spikes or panicles, male and female flowers on separate plants. Sepals 5, scalelike, subtended by scalelike bracts. Petals absent. Male tepals 3.5-4 mm long. Plant Trivia: Named in honor of Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), a merchant, explorer, naturalist and author. There are 14 species in the Amaranthus genus in this area of the coastal bend.
Field Identification: This is a common beach plant. Usually found along the foredunes to the base of the sand dunes. Its succulent leaves and stems is an excellent indicator of this species in beach locations.
Occurrence: Common to beaches and dunes on barrier islands.
Bloom Period: March-December
Plant Use:
Key to Genera if needed: For further queries of this species along the coastal bend of Texas see Plants of the Texas Coastal Bend by Roy L. Lehman, Ruth O’Brien & Tammy White.
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