Amaranthus brownii
| Amaranthus brownii | |
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| Species: | A. brownii
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| Amaranthus brownii | |
Amaranthus brownii is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. It is the rarest of three endemic plants to the island of Nihoa in Hawaii, and is federally listed as an endangered species. About 35 specimens exist on the island. An annual herb that can grow from 1 to 3 feet in height, it has small, green flowers, and fruit that holds a single dark red seed. Major threats to its existence include invasive species, fire, possible hybridization with other Amaranthus species. Inbreeding, though, is the most worrisome, as the small population is forced to reproduce within its own circle, causing genetic defects. Efforts to try to grow Amaranthus brownii in greenhouses have failed.
References
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