Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario Weeds: Smooth pigweed

Table of Contents

1. Name
2. Other Names
3. Family
4. General Description
   • Photos and Pictures
5. Flowers and Fruit
6. Habitat
7. Similar Species
8. Related Links

Name: Smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L.,

Other Names: amarante hybride, Green amaranth, Prince's-feather, Wild beet, amarante verte, A. hypochondriacus L.

Family: Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae)

General Description: Similar in general appearance to both Redroot pigweed and Green pigweed.

Photos and Pictures

Flowers & Fruit: It is distinguished from Redroot pigweed by being less hairy; its inflorescence much finer, the individual spikes being nearly always less than 1cm (2/5in.) thick, much less spiny because of their shorter bracts (3-4mm, 1/8-1/6in.), and having smaller flowers (2mm, 1/12in.), hence the name "smooth," both terminal and lateral spikes usually longer and pointing upward. It is distinguished from Green pigweed by its more slender and less spiny spikes.

Habitat: Smooth pigweed occurs in gardens, fields and waste places in southern Ontario, especially in the southwestern counties.

Similar Species: Hybridization is known to occur among Redroot pigweed, Green pigweed and Smooth pigweed. Plants which seem to be intermediate or have a mixture of characteristics from any of these species could be hybrids between them.

Related Links

... on general Weed topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control

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