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Amaranthus Muricatus
''Amaranthus muricatus'', the so-called African amaranth, is a species in the genus ''Amaranthus ''Amaranthus'' is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals, and ornamental plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely pac ...'' native to South America; Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. It is an invasive species in Africa, Europe and Australia, and to a lesser degree in North America and Asia. It is a decumbent perennial that does well in arid climates. ''A. muricatus'' may grow to about 60 cm tall. Its glabrous leaves are linear to lanceolate, about 2-5 cm long, with long petioles. Small flowers are produced on compact, pyramidal panicles. These flowers, which appear in summer and fall, produce wrinkled achenes, about 2 mm long, containing semiglossy, black, lenticular seeds that are typically 1-1.2 mm in diameter. References {{Taxonbar, from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Gillies (botanist)
John Gillies (1792–1834) was a Scottish naval surgeon who later became an explorer and botanist, travelling extensively in South America. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, he served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Afflicted by tuberculosis, Gillies left the UK aged 28 for South America in the hope that the climate would improve his fragile health. He spent eight years there, mostly in Argentina, surviving wars, civil unrest, and chronic ill health, sending numerous plants to Hooker at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew before returning in 1828. He died aged 42 at Edinburgh on 24 November 1834, his remains interred at Calton.Gibbs, F. W. (1951). John Gillies, M.D., Traveller and Botanist, 1792–1834. ''Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London'' 1951. The Royal Society, London Eponymy A number of plants were named for Gillies: * ( Amaryllidaceae) '' Gilliesia'' Lindl. * (Acanthaceae) ''Adhatoda gilliesii'' Nees * (Acanthaceae) '' Poikilacanthus gillie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
