coast amaranth vs

Amaranthus pumilus compared with Tuber maculatum

Key Differences

  • coast amaranth is Extinct while is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank coast amaranth
Kingdom Plantae (plante) Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicots) Pezizomycetes (Pezizomycetes)
Order Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales) Pezizales (Pezizales)
Family Amaranthaceae Tuberaceae
Genus Amaranthus Tuber
Species Amaranthus pumilus Tuber maculatum

Conservation Status

coast amaranth

EX — Extinct

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute coast amaranth
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

coast amaranth

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Japan.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Tuber maculatum, the whitish truffle or spotted truffle, is an underground fruiting ascomycete with a white to cream-colored exterior marked by dark patches giving it a mottled appearance. It inhabits calcareous soils in temperate European forests, forming ectomycorrhizal associations with oak, hazel, and other hardwood trees. This subterranean fungus forms nutrient-exchange partnerships with tree roots and disperses spores via burrowing animals attracted to its pungent aroma.

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