Southwest Desert Flora

Scientific Name: Gomphrena nitida
Common Name: Pearly Globe Amaranth
Also Called: Ball Clover
Family: Amaranthaceae, Pigweed Family
Synonyms: ()
Status: Native
Duration: Annual
Size: Up to 2 feet or more.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; roots fibrous, stems erect, stems may have soft weak or thin hairs (pilose) or hairs that are stiff or bristly (strigose).
Leaves: Green; either sessile or with short petioles, blade is obovate or oblong.
Flower Color: White or yellowish-white, rarely reddish, flowers in ball-shape, flowers very similar to Sonoran Globe Amaranth.
Flowering Season: August to September.
Elevation: 4,000 to 6,000 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Dry plains and slopes usually with grasses.

Recorded Range: Rare in the United States, Gomphrena nitida is found only in Arizona, New Mexico and extreme southwest Texas. In Arizona, Sonoran Globe Amaranth is found in the southern part of the state.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Gomphrena nitida.

U.S. Weed Information: No data available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No data available.
Wetland Indicator: No data available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No data available.

Comments: In the United States, Pearly Globe Amaranth is found only in Arizona where it occurs mostly in southern Arizona. This species is very similar in appearance to Sonoran Globe Amaranth, Gomphrena sonorae which is found in central and southern Arizona.

Also see in Southwest Desert Flora also see Tufted Globe Amaranth, Pearly Globe Amaranth, Gomphrena nitida.