PECULIAR VARIETIES OF AMARANTHUS RETROFLEXUS. 



John H. Schaffner. 



The development of large numbers of new varieties from 

 cultivated plants is a matter of general observation. The similar 

 origin of varieties from species which are not under the control 

 of man is still a question with some. However, that a great 

 number of new forms appear in the wild state becomes evident 

 whenever one begins to study a flora with which he is more or 

 less familiar. A study of the varieties present in the weeds and 

 other plants of our cultivated fields and gardens should be of soine 

 importance since we are here dealing with plants growing under 

 like conditions as our domesticated species but which have not 

 been subject to selection by man. 



C 1 



Fig. 1. Leaves of Amaranthus retroflexus. 



The writer has made some study of our common weedy Amar- 

 anths and finds that there are a number of species showing distinct 

 varieties. One of the most interesting of these is the common 

 Rough Pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus. This plant has a wide 

 distribution in North America and is abundant in fields, gardens, 

 and waste places. It is considered as an immigrant from tropical 

 America, but whether in historical times or not is not known to 

 the writer. The leaf characters of this plant are very diverse. 

 There are different types of texture as well as markings. It is 

 only the most striking of the leaf markings that will be consid- 

 ered here. 



469 



