Flower ID: IMG_9676.JPG-09-14-2023 Flower name (scientific): Amaranthus retroflexus Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) am-a-RAN-thus ret-roh-FLEKS-us Flower name (common): Redroot Pigweed Family name (common): Amaranth Family name (scientific): Amaranthaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From Greek amarantos, meaning unfading or nonwithering, refers to the long lasting flowers. Specific epithet: Turned backwards or downwards, referring to the inflorescence, which may be reflexed at the tip. Common name origin: From the reddish colored taproot and its use and a food source for hogs. Flower description: Size: 0.06 to 0.08 inches (1.5 to 2 mm) Petal count: 5 (tepals) Color: green Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 12 to 72 inches (30 to 180 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate to rhombic-ovate (FNA), cordate-ovate or elliptic (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, fields, woodland edges, streambanks, lake and river edges, moist to dry, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Amaranthus retroflexus has a similar appearance to Amaranthus tuberculatus (Rough-fruited Waterhemp). A. tuberculatus has stem and leaves that are hairless, while A. retroflexus has a fairly hairy stem, and leaves that are hairy along the veins on the abaxial surface. Leaf shape and petiole length can also assist in distinguishing these two species. A. retroflexus leaves are ovate to rhombic-ovate with the petiole about half to equaling the blade length of the associated leaf. The proximal leaves of A. tuberculatus are ovate or obovate and the distal leaves oblong or elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, and the petiole about one quarter to one half the length of the associated leaf blade. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin, but employed by a number of tribes including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Mohegan, and Navajo to treat various ailments. Also utilized by the Apache, Iroquois, Mohegan, Navajo, and other tribes as a food source (Moerman, pp. 65-66, 1998). Latitude: 44.801860 Longitude: -91.529128 Altitude: 247.60 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU