Achyranthes abyssinica

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Caryophyllales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Eudicots Cladus: Core eudicots Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Amaranthaceae s.l.
Cladus: Amaranthaceae s.str.
Subfamilia: Amaranthoideae
Genus: Achyranthes
Species: Achyranthes abyssinica

Name

Achyranthes abyssinica Nees, Del. Sem. Hort. Vratisl. 1850: 3 (1850)

• Neotype (designated by Sukhorukov et al., 2024): Ethiopia, [Tigray Region,] Scholoda [Soloda Mt. near Adwa Town], 12 November 1838, Schimper 1144 [Schimper, Iter Abyssinicum, ser. 2 (1842)]. (BM; Isoneotypes: G G00688998, BR BR00000083356949, FI, K K005771057 – central twig, LE, M M0241524, WU..

Synonyms

• Homotypic
  • Centrostachys abyssinica (Nees) Standl. in J. Washington Acad. Sci. 5: 75 (1915)
• Heterotypic
  • Achyranthes argentea var. albissima Suess. in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 2: 70 (1955).
    • Lectotype (designated by Sukhorukov et al., 2024): Kenya, Northern Prov., Furroli [Mount], Mt. top: granite with Olea & Juniperus, 6600 ft, occasional, 20 September 1952, J.B. Gillett 13957. K000243722!, Isolectotype: K000243723.
  • Achyranthes aspera f. latifolia Suess. in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 1: 70 (1950).
    • Holotype: Kenya, pr. Forest Station in silva montana, 2350 m, 5 January 1922, R.E. Fries & Th.C.E. Fries 781. K000243724; Isotypes: BR0000008819922, S07-12310 – image).
  • Achyranthes aspera f. rubella Suess. in Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 15: 54 (1938).
    • Lectotype (designated by Sukhorukov et al., 2024): DR Congo, [South Kivu Prov.,] Kizozi, 1935, Lejeune 190. BR0000008819512; Isolectotype: BR0000008819192.

Distribution

Native distribution areas:
Africa Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda Asia-Temperate Arabian Peninsula Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Nees von Esenbeck 1850. Delectus seminum, quae in horto botanico Vratislaviensi a 1850...["1851"]. Breslau. Online Reference page. 

Additional references

• Sukhorukov, A.P., Kushunina, M., Nilova, M.V., Baider, C. & Sennikov, A.N. 2024. Africa and Arabia encompass a much greater species diversity in the Achyranthes aspera aggregate (Amaranthaceae, achyranthoid clade): Evidence from morphological and chorological data. PhytoKeys 250: 21–94. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.250.136139, BHL Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Achyranthes abyssinica in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Nov. 27. Reference page. 
• International Plant Names Index. 2025. Achyranthes abyssinica. Published online. Accessed: Nov. 27 2025. Reference page.