Amaranthus spinosus, also known as spiny amaranth, is a plant native to the tropical Americas but can now be found on most continents as an introduced species. It is sometimes considered a noxious weed and can be a problem for rice cultivation in Asia. However, it also has various uses, including as a dye for cloth and as a food source in many cultures. In Thai cuisine, it is known as phak khom and is often stir-fried with egg and pork. In traditional medicine, the plant has been used to treat jaundice and as a diuretic. The seeds are also a food source for many songbirds.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Amaranthus spinosus f. inermis	Lauterb. & K.Schum.	Fl. Schutzgeb. Südsee 305 1900
Galliaria spitosa	(L.) Nieuwl.	Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3: 278 (1914)
Amaranthus spinosus var. basiscissus	Thell.	Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 5: 269 1914
Amaranthus spinosus var. circumscissus	Thell.	Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 5: 269 1914
Amaranthus spinosus var. indehiscens	Thell.	Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 5: 269 1914
Amaranthus spinosus var. purpurascens	Moq.	Prodr. 13(2): 260 1849
Amaranthus spinosus var. rubricaulis	Hassk.	Flora 25(Litt.): 20 1842
Amaranthus spinosus var. viridicaulis	Hassk.	Flora 25(Litt.): 20 1842
Amaranthus spinosus var. pygmaeus	Hassk.	Cat. Pl. Bogor. 83. 1844.

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	spiny amaranth
Spanish	amaranthus spinosa
Arabic	قطيفة شائكة
Bulgarian	бодлив щир
Bulgarian	amaranthus spinosa
Bambara	npɔrɔn ŋɔnima
Bengali	কাঁটানটে
German	amaranthus spinosa
Finnish	piikkirevonhäntä
French	amarante épineuse
French	amaranthus spinosa
French	épinard cochon
French	épinard malabar
French	épinard piquant
Hindi	कटीली चौलाई
Indonesian	bayam duri
Italian	amaranthus spinosa
Japanese	ハリビユ
Japanese	ハリイヌビユ
Korean	가시비름
la	amaranthus spinosa
Malayalam	മുള്ളൻ ചീര
Marathi	तांदुळजा
Malay	pokok bayam duri
Burmese	ဟင်းနုနယ်ဆူးပေါက်
Nepali	काँडे लुँडे
Dutch	amaranthus spinosa
ny	bonongwe
pam	ayang lalaki
pwn	ljadjulidjulis
Quechua	kichka ataqu
Russian	amaranthus spinosa
Swedish	taggamarant
Tamil	முள்ளுக்கீரை
tay	lalam
Telugu	ముళ్ళ తోటకూర
Thai	ผักโขมหนาม
Vietnamese	dền gai
Chinese	刺苋
Chinese	刺苋筋苋菜
Chinese	刺苋菜
Chinese	刺莧
Chinese	簕苋菜
Chinese	勒苋菜
Chinese	竻苋菜

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- East Tropical Africa
  - Kenya
  - Tanzania
  - Uganda
- Macaronesia
  - Cape Verde
  - Madeira
- Northeast Tropical Africa
  - Chad
  - Eritrea
  - Ethiopia
  - Sudan
- Northern Africa
  - Egypt
  - Tunisia
- South Tropical Africa
  - Angola
  - Malawi
  - Mozambique
  - Zambia
  - Zimbabwe
- Southern Africa
  - Botswana
  - Kwazulu-Natal
  - Namibia
  - Northern Provinces
  - Swaziland
- West Tropical Africa
  - Benin
  - Burkina
  - Gambia
  - Ghana
  - Guinea
  - Guinea-Bissau
  - Ivory Coast
  - Liberia
  - Mali
  - Mauritania
  - Niger
  - Nigeria
  - Senegal
  - Sierra Leone
  - Togo
- West-central Tropical Africa
  - Burundi
  - Cameroon
  - Central African Republic
  - Congo
  - Gabon
  - Gulf Of Guinea Islands
  - Rwanda
  - Zaïre
- Western Indian Ocean
  - Mauritius
  - Réunion

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Arabian Peninsula
  - Gulf States
  - Saudi Arabia
  - Yemen
- Caucasus
  - Transcaucasus
- China
  - China North-central
  - China South-central
  - China Southeast
- Eastern Asia
  - Japan
  - Kazan-retto
  - Korea
  - Nansei-shoto
  - Taiwan
- Russian Far East
  - Primorye
- Western Asia
  - Afghanistan
  - Cyprus
  - Iran
  - Palestine

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - Assam
  - Bangladesh
  - East Himalaya
  - India
  - Maldives
  - Nepal
  - Pakistan
  - Sri Lanka
  - West Himalaya
- Indo-China
  - Andaman Islands
  - Cambodia
  - Laos
  - Myanmar
  - Nicobar Nicobar
  - South China Sea
  - Thailand
  - Vietnam
- Malesia
  - Borneo
  - Christmas Island
  - Jawa
  - Malaya
  - Maluku
  - Philippines
  - Sulawesi
  - Sumatera
- Papuasia
  - New Guinea
  - Solomon Islands

Australasia click to expand
- Australia
  - New South Wales
  - Queensland
- New Zealand
  - New Zealand North

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - Ukraine
- Middle Europe
  - Czechoslovakia
- Northern Europe
  - Denmark
  - Finland
  - Norway
  - Sweden
- Southeastern Europe
  - Albania
  - Greece
  - Italy
- Southwestern Europe
  - France

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - Ontario
- Mexico
  - Mexico Central
  - Mexico Gulf
  - Mexico Northeast
  - Mexico Northwest
  - Mexico Southeast
  - Mexico Southwest
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - Nebraska
  - Oklahoma
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- South-central U.S.A.
  - Texas
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - Delaware
  - District Of Columbia
  - Florida
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Louisiana
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - South Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - California
- Western Canada
  - Manitoba

Pacific click to expand
- North-central Pacific
  - Hawaii
- Northwestern Pacific
  - Caroline Islands
  - Marianas
  - Marshall Islands
- Southwestern Pacific
  - Fiji
  - Nauru
  - New Caledonia
  - Vanuatu

Southern America click to expand
- Brazil
  - Brazil North
  - Brazil Northeast
  - Brazil South
  - Brazil Southeast
  - Brazil West-central
- Caribbean
  - Bahamas
  - Cayman Islands
  - Cuba
  - Dominican Republic
  - Haiti
  - Jamaica
  - Leeward Islands
  - Puerto Rico
  - Southwest Caribbean
  - Trinidad-Tobago
  - Turks-caicos Islands
  - Venezuelan Antilles
  - Windward Islands
- Central America
  - Belize
  - Costa Rica
  - El Salvador
  - Guatemala
  - Honduras
  - Nicaragua
  - Panamá
- Northern South America
  - French Guiana
  - Guyana
  - Suriname
  - Venezuela
- Southern South America
  - Argentina Northeast
  - Argentina Northwest
  - Paraguay
- Western South America
  - Bolivia
  - Colombia
  - Ecuador
  - Galápagos
  - Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000530495
UNII	NTG4VEC7JB
Florida Plant Atlas	1453
Flora of Alabama	285
Canadensys	2507
USDA Plants	AMSP
Tropicos	1100013
INPN	82023
Flora of Italy	544
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:10711-2
The Plant List	kew-2633107
Open Tree Of Life	892632
Observations.org	145563
NCBI Taxonomy	124765
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0200001745
Nature Serve	2.144076
IPNI	10711-2
iNaturalist	62917
GBIF	5384401
Freebase	/m/0872d8
WisFlora	2501
EPPO	AMASP
EOL	585494
Calflora (Californian flora)	284
USDA GRIN	2804
Wikipedia	Amaranthus_spinosus
CMAUP	NPO6060

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Classification and application of metal-based nanoantioxidants in medicine and healthcare

Nam NN, Tran NK, Nguyen TT, Trai NN, Thuy NP, Do HD, Tran NH, Trinh KT

Beilstein J Nanotechnol

12-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11022389
doi:	10.3762/bjnano.15.36
PMID:	38633767

Woody Species Composition, Structure, and Status of Regeneration in Pugnido Forest, Gambella Region, Western Ethiopia

Masresha G, Melkamu Y, Mulu G

Scientifica (Cairo)

04-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11008979
doi:	10.1155/2024/3961434
PMID:	38605976

Herbal Theranostics: Controlled, Targeted Delivery and Imaging of Herbal Molecules

Setia A, Vallamkonda B, Challa RR, Mehata AK, Badgujar P, Muthu MS

Nanotheranostics

25-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10988210
doi:	10.7150/ntno.94987
PMID:	38577318

Impact of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Environment on the Metabolic Profile of Medicinal Plants and Their Therapeutic Potential

Asiminicesei DM, Fertu DI, Gavrilescu M

Plants (Basel)

21-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10976221
doi:	10.3390/plants13060913
PMID:	38592933

Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation

Nelufule T, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Moshobane MC, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T

Plants (Basel)

18-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10975853
doi:	10.3390/plants13060872
PMID:	38592858

Wild Foods Are Positively Associated with Diet Diversity and Child Growth in a Protected Forest Area of Madagascar

Iannotti L, Randrianarivony T, Randrianasolo A, Rakotoarivony F, Andriamihajarivo T, LaBrier M, Gyimah E, Vie S, Nunez-Garcia A, Hart R

Curr Dev Nutr

13-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10999825
doi:	10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102101
PMID:	38590953

Medicinal herbs and their metabolites with biological potential to protect and combat liver toxicity and its disorders: A review

Islam Shawon S, Nargis Reyda R, Qais N

Heliyon

01-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10864916
doi:	10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25340
PMID:	38356556

Ayurvedic preparations of Raudra Rasa inhibit agonist‐mediated platelet activation and restrict thrombogenicity without affecting cell viability

Chaurasia SN, Singh V, Ekhlak M, Dash MK, Joshi N, Dash D

FEBS Open Bio

21-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10699108
doi:	10.1002/2211-5463.13713
PMID:	37787005

ALS gene overexpression and enhanced metabolism conferring Digitaria sanguinalis resistance to nicosulfuron in China

Wang R, Sun Y, Lan Y, Wei S, Huang H, Li X, Huang Z

Front Plant Sci

17-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10690955
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2023.1290600
PMID:	38046608

Medicinal plants of the upper Aswa River catchment of northern Uganda - a cultural crossroads

Masters ET

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

27-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10605377
doi:	10.1186/s13002-023-00620-5
PMID:	37884931

An invasive appetite: Combining molecular and stable isotope analyses to reveal the diet of introduced house mice (Mus musculus) on a small, subtropical island

Holthuijzen WA, Flint EN, Green SJ, Plissner JH, Simberloff D, Sweeney D, Wolf CA, Jones HP

PLoS One

19-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10586637
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0293092
PMID:	37856477

Ethnobotanical study on edible flowers in Xishuangbanna, China

Zhang Q, Cheng Z, Fan Y, Zhang D, Wang M, Zhang J, Sommano S, Wu X, Long C

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

30-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10542681
doi:	10.1186/s13002-023-00608-1
PMID:	37777741

Comprehensive Overview of the Effects of Amaranthus and Abelmoschus esculentus on Markers of Oxidative Stress in Diabetes Mellitus

Phoswa WN, Mokgalaboni K

Life (Basel)

29-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10532493
doi:	10.3390/life13091830
PMID:	37763234

Spatial distribution of the four invasive plants and their impact on natural communities’ dynamics across the arid and semi-arid environments in northwest Pakistan

Khan N, Ullah R, Okla MK, Abdel-Maksoud MA, Saleh IA, Abu-Harirah HA, AlRamadneh TN, AbdElgawad H

Front Plant Sci

25-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10485558
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2023.1207222
PMID:	37692447

Emergence of Nano-Based Formulations for Effective Delivery of Flavonoids against Topical Infectious Disorders

Dwivedi K, Mandal AK, Afzal O, Altamimi AS, Sahoo A, Alossaimi MA, Almalki WH, Alzahrani A, Barkat MA, Almeleebia TM, Mir Najib Ullah SN, Rahman M

Gels

18-Aug-2023

PMCID:	PMC10453850
doi:	10.3390/gels9080671
PMID:	37623126

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!

Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Lupin alkaloids / Anagyrine-type alkaloids
Anagyrine	5351589	Click to see C1CCN2CC3CC(C2C1)CN4C3=CC=CC4=O	244.33	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Lupin alkaloids / Cytisine and derivatives
Cytisinicline	10235	Click to see C1C2CNCC1C3=CC=CC(=O)N3C2	190.24	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Quassinoids
Picrasin C	182145	Click to see CC1CC(C(=O)C2(C1CC3C4(C2C(C(C(C4CC(=O)O3)C)OC)OC(=O)C)C)C)O	422.50	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside	296119	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C	576.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
Sitogluside	5742590	Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C	576.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
> Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Nucleoside and nucleotide analogues
5-[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione	163193602	Click to see C1=C(C(=O)NC(=O)N1)C2C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O	244.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
> Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Pyrimidine nucleosides
alpha-Xylofuranosyluracil	129636927	Click to see C1=CNC(=O)N(C1=O)C2C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O	244.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives
Leucine	6106	Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)O)N	131.17	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642635.0298
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Valine and derivatives
Valine	6287	Click to see CC(C)C(C(=O)O)N	117.15	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642635.0298
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Amino sugars / Acylaminosugars
Man2XylManGlcNAc2	91859753	Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1O)CO)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)COC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)OC6C(C(C(CO6)O)O)O)O)NC(=O)C)O	1042.90	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / C-glycosyl compounds
beta-D-Ribofuranosyladenin	21829484	Click to see C1=NC2=NC(=NC(=C2N1)N)C3C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O	267.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolyl carboxylic acids and derivatives
Tryptophan	6305	Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=CN2)CC(C(=O)O)N	204.22	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780642635.0298
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyridodiazepines
Hydroxynorcytisine	25171260	Click to see C1C2CNC1C3=CC=C(C(=O)N3C2)O	192.21	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrrolizidines
1H-Pyrrolizine-1-methanol, hexahydro-, (1S-cis)-	94259	Click to see C1CC2C(CCN2C1)CO	141.21	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Organosulfur compounds / Thioureas
Thiourea	2723790	Click to see C(=S)(N)N	76.12	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides
5-hydroxy-2-[3-hydroxy-4-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]-7-methoxychromen-4-one	101939797	Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(C=C(C=C2)C3=CC(=O)C4=C(C=C(C=C4O3)OC)O)O)O)O)O	446.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02975884
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones
5-O-Methylgenistein	5748551	Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1C(=O)C(=CO2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O	284.26	unknown	via CMAUP database
Genistein	5280961	Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)O	270.24	unknown	via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans / Isoflavanones / 6-prenylated isoflavanones
5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one	26250194	Click to see CC(=C)C(CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC=C(C2=O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)O	354.40	unknown	via CMAUP database
Alpinumisoflavone	5490139	Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2O)C(=O)C(=CO3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C	336.30	unknown	via CMAUP database
Luteone	5281797	Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC=C(C2=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3)O)O)O)C	354.40	unknown	via CMAUP database
Wighteone	5281814	Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC=C(C2=O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)C	338.40	unknown	via CMAUP database

Biological Material Top

Contributors Top

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Amaranthus spinosus

Table of Contents

Details Top

Description Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Biological Material Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top