| Food security= 3
}}
[[File:Map Amaranthus blitum.gif|thumb|distribution in Africa (wild)]]
[[File:Linedrawing Amaranthus blitum.gif|thumb|1, flowering and fruiting branch; 2, fruit; 3, seed. Redrawn and adapted by Iskak Syamsudin]]
[[File:Amaranthus blitum 9 RRS.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Amaranthus blitum 10a RRS.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Amaranthus blitum 10b RRS.jpg|thumb|]]
broad-leaved form
<big>''[[Amaranthus blitum]]'' L.</big>habit (top view), Uganda
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weedy form
<big>''[[Amaranthus blitum]]'' L.</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Amaranthus blitum'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Sp. pl. 2: 990 (1753).
== Synonyms ==
*''Amaranthus lividus'' L. (1753), *''Amaranthus oleraceus'' L. (1763).
== Vernacular names ==
*Amaranth, wild amaranth, pigweed, purple amaranth (En). *Amarante sauvage, amarante blette (Fr). *Amaranto, bredo (Po). *Mchicha (Sw).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
== Description ==
*Annual herb, small and stunted to rather tall and erect, up to 100 cm tall; stem simple or branched, glabrous. *Leaves arranged spirally, simple without stipules; petiole 1–10 cm long; lamina angular ovate, 1–10 cm × 0.5–6 cm, shortly cuneate at base, notched at apex, entire, glabrous, green or more or less purple, pinnately veined. *Inflorescence an axillary many-flowered cluster, forming a false spike at apex of plant, with male and female flowers intermixed; bracts up to 1 mm long. *Flowers unisexual, subsessile, with 3(–5) tepals up to 1.5 mm long; male flowers with 3 stamens opposite tepals; female flowers with superior, 1-celled ovary crowned by (2–)3 stigmas. *Fruit a subglobular to broadly ovoid-ellipsoid capsule c. 2 mm long, indehiscent or bursting irregularly, crowned by stigmas, 1-seeded. *Seed lenticular, up to 1.5 mm in diameter, glossy dark brown to black.
== Other botanical information ==
== Author(s) ==
* G.J.H. Grubben , Boeckweijdt Consult, Prins Hendriklaan 24, 1401 AT Bussum, Netherlands
== Correct citation of this article ==
Grubben, G.J.H., 2004. '''Amaranthus blitum''' L. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.
Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
* See the [http://www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?en=1&p=Amaranthus+blitum+L. Prota4U] database.
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[[Category:PROTA]]
[[Category:Vegetables (PROTA)]]