Blitum capitatum

Blitum capitatum L.
Sp. Pl.: 4 (1753)


Strawberry Blite / Beetberry

Amaranthaceae

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Etymology
 L. blitum, orach (Atriplex hortensis), from Gr. bliton, a leafy vegetable + L. capitatus, forming a head, in ref. to the flower clusters
Description:
 Annual; calyx tube < lobes; flower clusters subtended by leafy bracts only in proximal 1/2 of inflorescence; stamens 3; fruit maturing from tip to base of plant; flower clusters 6--10 mm in diam; fruit red, fleshy; leaf blade base truncate to cordate (hastate), margin generally sharply toothed
Distribution:

Canada, n/w USA; naturalized in parts of Europe
Synonyms:

Homotypic:
Blitum virgatum var. capitatum (L.) Coss., Germ. & Wedd. in Introd. Fl. Anal. Paris: 108 (1842)
Chenopodium capitatum (L.) Asch. in Fl. Brandenburg: 572 (1864)
Blitum virgatum subsp. capitatum (L.) Bonnier & Layens in Tabl. Syn. Pl. Vasc. France: 269 (1894)
Accepted Infraspecies
 Blitum capitatum subsp. capitatum
Blitum capitatum subsp. hastatum (Rydb.) Mosyakin in Phytoneuron 2013-56: 2 (2013)
Type:
 Lectotype : Herb. Linn. No. 14.1 (LINN)
Website Info:
 All fruit and seed images have been taken with the Visionary Digital Microscope System Dun, Inc. Palmyra, VA by Lee Simpson at San Diego State University. Website development by Lee Simpson. Contact: sdsuherbarium@sdsu.edu



Distribution:
GBIF map GBIF map 2
GBIF 2025: https://www.gbif.org


Type:
Blitum_capitatum-LINN1.png image Blitum_capitatum-LINN2.png image
Herb. Linn. No. 14.1 (LINN)

Exemplar:
SDSI23260.jpg specimen
Fruit with calyx 
Fruit 1 Fruit 2 Fruit 3
Blitum capitatum
SDSU23260

Website development by Lee Simpson. Contact: sdsuherbarium@sdsu.edu




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