Amaranthus acanthochiton

Taxobox
name = "Greenstripe"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
genus = "Amaranthus"
binomial = "Amaranthus acanthochiton"
binomial_authority = J.D.Sauer

"Amaranthus acanthochiton" (Greenstripe), is an annual plant species of the genus"Amaranthus" in the Amaranthaceae family. It is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua), growing at altitudes of 1000-2000 m were it is uncommon.

It is a dioecious plant growing to 10-80 cm tall. The leaves are slender, 2-8 cm long and 2-12 mm broad. The flowers are pale green, produced in dense terminal spikes. The seeds are brown, 1-1.3 mm diameter, contained in a 2-2.5 mm achene.

It is critically endangered in Utah, and endangered in Arizona (though no status has been set).

The seeds and young leaves were used by the Hopi Indians as a food source. The seeds were cooked as a form of porridge, while the leaves were used as greens.

References

* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415658 Flora of North America: "Amaranthus acanthochiton"]