Common name: Love-lies bleeding, Tassel Flower, Princes Feathers
Amaranthus caudatus L. APNI*
Description: Erect annual to c.1 m high, stems reddish, sparsely hairy.
Leaves ovate to elliptic, 3–8 cm long, uppermost leaves acute, reddish; petiole 2–4 cm long.
Inflorescence drooping spikes, axillary and terminal, to 30 cm long, dark red to maroon. Bracts lanceolate, aristate, c. 2 mm long. Perianth segments 5, spathulate, c. 2 mm long, mucronate. Stamens 3. Ovary smooth to minutely rugose, dehiscent.
Distribution and occurrence: Often cultivated as an ornamental, sometimes naturalized around habitations. Native of S Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *NT, *SWS
Other Australian states: *W.A. *S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & L. Lapinpuro Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 Suppl. (1999)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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