''Amaranthus pumilus'', the seaside amaranth or seabeach amaranth, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of amaranth. This annual plant is now a threatened species, although it was formerly scattered along the eastern coast of the United States, its native range.

History

The seaside amaranth once ranged widely from South Carolina to Massachusetts. It was first identified in New Jersey, but disappeared in that state by 1913. It is now gone from two thirds of its original range.The Nature Conservancy
/ref> This plant has reappeared on some areas where it was formerly

extirpated Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...

by habitat loss and recreational activities.

Description

The plant consists of many low and prostrate stems with fleshy leaves. Larger plants with hundreds of stems may cover an area of about a meter. Yellow flowers are obscure, but many seeds are produced in July. The lengthy viability of these seeds may account for the reappearance of ''Amaranthus pumilus'' in places where it had formerly vanished.

Habitat

This plant is found on sandy beaches, especially on

barrier island Barrier islands are coastal landforms and a type of dune system that are exceptionally flat or lumpy areas of sand that form by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from ...

s. It flourishes at the base of dunes above the high water mark. Although the seaside amaranth is found in the neighborhood of other beach plants, it is intolerant of all but American sea rocket (''Cakile edentula''). The plant is important in the sandy beach ecosystem, accumulating sand around itself to form dunes.

Conservation status in the United States

The plant was listed as a threatened species of the United States in 1993. There are perhaps 50 populations remaining. It is listed as a special concern and believed

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

, as threatened in

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

, and as endangered in

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

New York (state) New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

, and

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

. Threats include disturbance of its beach habitat through development, construction of

seawall A seawall (or sea wall) is a form of coastal defense constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation ...

off-road vehicle An off-road vehicle, sometimes referred to as an overland or adventure vehicle, is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with de ...

activity, and other forces. Along the North Carolina Coast the deposits of tanker oil left on the beach from the ships torpedoed during both world wars is the main cause for the demise of the Sea Beach Amaranth.

References

External links

US FWS information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4740174 pumilus Flora of the Eastern United States Plants described in 1808 Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque