Hybridizes with :
- Green Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) to produce Amaranthus × ozanonii which is found in just a few places in Southern Britain from 1959 onwards.
Indehiscent Amaranth (Amaranthus bouchonii) to produce Amaranthus retroflexus × Amaranthus bouchonii (which has no other name). 5 mixed populations of this hybrid and both parents were found in Cambridgeshire, most were sterile.
It is an alien neophyte becoming naturalised in waste places and tips. This specimen looks like it is on the top of a tip.
It's toxicity is medium to low, containing several potential toxins such as nitrate s, oxalate s and some unknown nephrotoxic and myacardiotoxic substances, which can all affect ruminent livestock - but mainly by the nitrates which are converted into nitrites within their rumen and which is rapidly absorbed and converted into Methemoglobin - resulting in a sudden onset of symptoms. But this usually requires the consumption of the plant over a period of between several days to weeks. Nitrate poisoning of these animals includes the sudden onset of tachypnea, weakness and recumbency. Animals which initially survive after several weeks recovery usually exhibit reduced renal function. Humans seem not to be affected as much, but then most are not daft enough to eat it in the first place.
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