e-Flora of Thailand

Volume 5 > Part 4 > Year 1992 > Page 386 > Amaranthaceae > Amaranthus

4. Amaranthus tricolor L.wfo-0000530523

Sp. Pl.: 989. 1753; K.Larsen in Fl. C.L.V. 24: 24. 1989. Fig. 85: 5–7.


Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.



Synonyms & Citations :

Amaranthus tristis L., l.c.: 989.
Amaranthus melancholicus L., l.c.: 989.
Amaranthus mangostanus L., Cent. Pl. 1: t. 32. 1755; Hook.f. in Fl. Br. Ind. 4: 720. 1885; Gagnep. in Fl. Gen I.-C. 4: 1062. 1936.
Amaranthus gangeticus L., Syst. Nat. ed. 10: 1268. 1759; Hook.f. l.c. 719; Gagnep. l.c. 1063.
Amaranthus oleraceus Burm.f., Fl. Ind.: 198. 1768.


Description : Annual with erect or ascending stem, often much branched, up to 2 m tall, usually robust, glabrous or thinly pubescent in upper part; stems longitudinally ridged or sulcate when dry. Leaves with petioles up to 5 cm, but usually shorter; lamina rhomboid-ovate; base acute and most often decurrent into the petiole; apex most often acute, sometimes rounded, glabrous or nearly so on both sides in varying degree purple blotched, 3–12 by 1.5–10 cm. Inflorescences axillary and terminal; the axillary ones dense capitate clusters, the terminal ones pseudo-spikes or panieles; the heads up to 2 cm in diam. on the most robust stems. ♂ and ♀ flowers intermixed. Bracts and bracteoles long pointed from a broad, triangular base, as long as perianth or shorter. Tepals 3, green or purple with scarious margins, triangular at base, long pointed, in ♂ 4–6 mm long, in ♀ 2–3 mm during anthesis, later lengthening to 4–5 mm. Stamens 3, shorter than or as long as perianth. Ovary cylindrical or obconical; styles 3. Fruit circumscissile below the middle. Seeds shining, dark brown, lenticular, ca 1 mm diam.


Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai; CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).


Distribution : Pantropic.


Ecology : Weedy on open soil.


Vernacular : Phak khom khao (ผักขมขาว), phak khom pao (ผักขมป๊าว)(Northern); phak khom chin (ผักขมจีน), phak khom suan (ผักขมสวน), phak khom si (ผักขมสี)(Central).


CommonName : Joseph’s Coat.


Uses: In Indochina widely cultivated as a pot-herb; no records from


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