Taxonomic revision of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae) in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae) in Saudi Arabia, based on both field surveys and examination of harbarium specimens, is here presented. Collected exsiccata are kept the Herbaria PNUH and RO. An extensive literature was also analysed. Sixtheen non-hybrid taxa (twelve species) are recognized. Data about nomenclature (accepted names, main synonyms, and types), morphology, chromosome number, chorology (for native taxa) or alien status (for exotic taxa), occurrence in Saudi Arabia, ecology (preferential habitat, phenology, elevation), and taxonomic annotations are provided for each taxon. A diagnostic key is proposed. Four taxa (A. graecizans subsp. graecizans, A. graecizans subsp. sylvestris, A. graecizans subsp. thellungianus, and A. sparganicephalus) are native, whereas the other ones are to be considered aliens. A. dubius and A. blitoides var. blitoides are new for the national flora. Furthermore, the name A. sparganicephalus is neotypified on a specimen deposited at E and a nomenclatural change (A. blitum var. nanus comb. nov.) is proposed.

Types of some Mexican names in Amaranthaceae s.l. (Caryophyllales)

“…sensu APGIV 2016) has a cosmopolitan geographical distribution, and comprises 174 genera and 2050-2500 species (POWO 2023), so being one of the most diverse groups within the order Caryophyllales (Kadereit et al 2003, Hernández-Ledesma et al 2015. Species of Amaranthaceae grow mainly in arid environments, saline habitats, or disturbed areas, and many species are considered weeds and/or aliens (see e.g., Sandoval-Ortega et al 2017, Iamonico & El Mokni 2019, Sindhu et al 2021, Hassan et al 2022.…”

Characterization of Amaranthus species: ability in nanoparticles fabrication and the antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria

“…According to Chaudhary (1999) , the flora of Saudi Arabia includes eight Amaranthus species. However, based on our ongoing study ( Hassan et al, 2022 ), they are actually 12 species (16 taxa including varieties), one of them is A. tricolor L., which is only cultivated. But, the presence of another one ( A. graecizans .…”