Amaranthus acanthochiton

Greenstripe
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Amaranthus
Species:	A. acanthochiton
Binomial name
Amaranthus acanthochiton J.D.Sauer

Amaranthus acanthochiton, the greenstripe, is an annual plant species of the genus Amaranthus in the family Amaranthaceae. It is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua), growing at elevations of 1000–2000 m where 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

• Flora of North America: Amaranthus acanthochiton