Calamus vs coast amaranth

Acorus calamus compared with Amaranthus pumilus

Key Differences

  • Calamus is Least Concern while coast amaranth is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Calamus coast amaranth
Kingdom same Plantae (Plants) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Liliopsida (Monocots) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Acorales (Acorales) Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family Acoraceae Amaranthaceae
Genus Acorus Amaranthus
Species Acorus calamus Amaranthus pumilus

Evolutionary Relationship

Calamus and coast amaranth share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Magnoliophyta. (Flowering Plants)

Conservation Status

Calamus

LC — Least Concern

coast amaranth

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Calamus coast amaranth
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Calamus

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (5 countries), Europe (30 countries), and North America (Canada, United States).

coast amaranth

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Japan.

Calamus

The Calamus (Acorus calamus) is a species in the genus Acorus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

coast amaranth

Coast amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae, native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States, where it once grew on coastal foredunes, beach strand, and shell-hash substrates above the high tide line from New York south to South Carolina. It is a low-growing, fleshy plant with small, rounded leaves and inconspicuous green flowers typical of the genus. Coast amaranth is assessed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN, as it has not been reliably documented from wild populations since the mid-20th century; the last confirmed collections date to the 1960s. The species' decline and likely extinction resulted from intense human pressure on Atlantic coastal habitats through shoreline development, beach stabilisation, vehicular traffic on beaches, and increased storm frequency disrupting pioneer dune vegetation. It is federally listed as Threatened in the United States, though this listing predates confirmed extinction in the wild. A small number of ex-situ accessions may exist in botanical garden collections. Genetic material and seed banking efforts represent the only remaining conservation options for this critically reduced species.

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