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Amaranthus spinosus L.
Spiny amaranth

Amaranthus spinosus
Copyright by: Forest & Kim Starr

Family: Amaranthaceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Annual

Native Range: A widespread weed in temperate and tropical regions; possibly native to Central America and South America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Not Native, Naturalized

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Not Cultivated

Comments: For more images, click on the USDA PLANTS and Altas of Florida Vascular Plants links below.

Other data on Amaranthus spinosus available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Amaranthus spinosus has been found in the following 47 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Babcock Ranch Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Big and Little George Hammocks Present Not Native, Naturalized
Big Cypress National Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Bill Sadowski Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock parcel 33 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Chapman Field Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Coconut Creek Maple Swamp Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Deering Estate at Cutler Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Possibly Extirpated Not Native, Naturalized
Dupuis Reserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Everglades National Park Assumed to be Present Not Native, Naturalized
Florida City Pineland Possibly Extirpated Not Native, Naturalized
Frenchman's Forest Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Frog Pond/L-31 N Transition Lands Present Not Native, Naturalized
Greynolds Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Harden Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Hattie Bauer Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Homestead Bayfront Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Jonathan Dickinson State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Juno Dunes Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Kiplinger Present Not Native, Naturalized
Larry and Penny Thompson Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center Present Not Native, Naturalized
Long Key State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Loveland Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Lucille Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Meissner Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
National Key Deer Refuge Possibly Extirpated Not Native, Naturalized
Navy Wells Pineland Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Ned Glenn Nature Preserve Assumed to be Present Not Native, Naturalized
Nicodemus Slough Present Not Native, Naturalized
Nixon Smiley Pineland Addition Present Not Native, Naturalized
Palm Drive Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Pine Island Ridge Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Pond Apple Slough Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Prairie Pines Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Quail Roost Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Riverbend Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Rock Pit 34 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Rock Pit 39 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Silver Palm Groves Present Not Native, Naturalized
Sunny Palms Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Tree Island Park Present Not Native, Naturalized

Amaranthus spinosus has been found in the following 8 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Not Native, Naturalized
Collier County Not Native, Naturalized
Hendry County Not Native, Naturalized
Lee County Not Native, Naturalized
Martin County Not Native, Naturalized
Miami-Dade County Not Native, Naturalized
Monroe County (Keys) Not Native, Naturalized
Palm Beach County Not Native, Naturalized

Amaranthus spinosus has been found in the following habitat :
Disturbed Upland

All Images:

Amaranthus spinosus
Copyright by: Forest & Kim Starr