Blitum nuttallianum. Synonym: Monolepis nuttalliana. (Nuttall's Poverty Weed)
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family) Formerly Chenopodiaceae

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring.
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, April 6, 2005.

Monolepis nuttalliana spreads itself crabgrass-like over dry, barren hills at low elevations in the Four Corners area. Where you find one plant, you will almost always find many and they will often be in the company of Stenogonum salsuginosum.

"Monolepis" is Greek for "single scale", and "nuttalliana" honors Thomas Nuttall, eminent 19th century botanist, ornithologist, naturalist, and Harvard teacher who collected this species for science (when on the Aster Expedition in 1811), "On arid soils on banks near the Missouri".  (Click for more biographical information about Nuttall.)

Semi-desert.  Shrublands, openings.  Spring.
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, April 6, 2005.

Young Monolepis nuttalliana leaves are long and narrow with smooth margins (top photograph at left); older leaves are hastate-shaped (bottom photograph).  Flowers cluster in the leaf axils. The top photograph shows bits of the pinkish flowers; most of the growth in the leaf axils is the developing seeds.

The species can be anthocyanic in whole or in part: notice the red stems.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Blitum nuttallianum