Seabeach Amaranth / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Photo Credit: Mike Kunz
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Threatened
  • Family: Amaranthaceae
  • State: CT, DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA
  • Nature Serve ID: 141860
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth) is an annual herb with reddish-colored, prostrate stems and fleshy, spinach-green leaves. The flowers are small and inconspicuous borne in the axils of the leaves. It occurs on Atlantic barrier island dunes in the often narrow strip of sand where there is little competition from other plants and above the high tide line. Often referred to as a fugitive annual, this species needs large areas of naturally dynamic islands to ensure long term survival.  A. pumilus populations are known to fluctuate in size and location as new habitat is created by tides, wind and storms and as old habitat is lost to succession or destroyed. This species is threatened by development, sea level rise, beach driving, recreational use, and beach stabilization (jetties, rock wall, fencing, etc.). It is also intolerant to salt water exposure and individuals are often lost after storm surge and overwash events. A. pumilus currently has fewer and likely smaller occurrences throughout its range (current or historic) than what is known to have occurred in the past.

Where is Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Amaranthus pumilus occurs on Atlantic barrier island beaches in areas where there is low competition from other vegetation, especially overwash flats at accreting ends islands, lower foredunes, and upper strands of non-eroding beaches (landward of the wrackline) (USFWS 1993).

Distribution:

Amaranthus pumilus is endemic to the Atlantic coastal plain from Massachusetts to South Carolina.  Currently it found only in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and occasionally Virginia. It is considered extirpated from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut (USFWS 1993; NatureServe, 2017). Recordings of its findings date all the way back to 1802, made by Samuel Constantine Rafinesque (Kelly 2013)
 

States & Provinces:

Seabeach Amaranth can be found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)?

  • North Carolina Botanical Garden

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add
    Donor Acknowledgment - In the Works
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17

  • Mt. Cuba Center

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 04/16/24
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    Tina Stanley
    • 04/16/2024
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    As of March 2024, Mt. Cuba Center holds Amaranthus pumilus seeds in orthodox storage.

    Michael Kunz
    • 01/10/2023
      • Seed Collection Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2022, the North Carolina Botanical Garden amplified seed of Amaranthus pumilus as part of the IMLS seed longevity study.  Surveys of the beach matching the site of the original collection in the 1980s as well as nearby islands failed to locate any plants in successive years.  In order to generate a "fresh" collection, we grew seeds from the original accession in our greenhouse and collected the seed.  

    Michael Kunz
    • 12/02/2021
      • Seed Collection

    As part of the IMLS seed longevity study, the NCBG attempted to collect seeds from a population of Amaranthus pumilus matching the location to a past collection from the 1980s.  However, surveys revealed that there were no plants in this population this year, likely do to shifts in the quality of the habitat.  Additional surveys of nearby beach habitat and known (past) populations revealed no A. pumilus.  NCBG will continue to survey for this population in 2022 in addition will begin a seed increase from the original material

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 08/17/2021
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2021, CPC contracted North Carolina Botanical Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

    • 10/13/2020
      • Demographic Research

    At the time of listing, this species was known from 13 populations in NY, 34 populations in NC and 8 populations in SC (USFWS 1993). There are currently populations in NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC and SC. Between 1999 and 2015, A. pumilus experienced a 98.5% decline in the number of individuals found range-wide (Dale Suiter, USFWS, personal communication).

    • 10/13/2020
      • Reintroduction

    Seeds are periodically added to known populations on beaches in Delaware by Bill McAvoy (Botanist, Wildlife Species Conservation and Research Program).

    • 10/13/2020
      • Reintroduction

    A reintroduction project is currently under way (2017) on six National Refuges (USFWS) across the species range; one each in SC and VA, two in NJ and two in MA. This is a cooperative project between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Refuge System and the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

    • 10/13/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    The North Carolina Botanical Garden holds ex situ seed collection is it's seed bank. Material represents 5 states and 15 distinct populations.

    • 10/13/2020
      • Seed Collection

    The North Carolina Botanical Garden holds ex situ seed collection is it's seed bank. Material represents 5 states and 15 distinct populations.

    Mike Kunz
    • 01/09/2018

    The North Carolina Botanical Garden holds ex situ seed collection is it's seed bank.  Material represents 5 states and 15 distinct populations.

    • 01/09/2018

    Seeds are periodically added to known populations on beaches in Delaware by Bill McAvoy (Botanist, Wildlife Species Conservation and Research Program).

    Mike Kunz
    • 01/09/2018

    A reintroduction project is currently under way (2017) on six National Refuges (USFWS) across the species range; one each in SC and VA, two in NJ and two in MA. This is a cooperative project between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Refuge System and the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Eliminated from two-thirds of its historic range. Formerly occurred on barrier island beaches from Massachusetts to South Carolina; now only extant in significant numbers in New York and the Carolinas, and in tiny stands in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. Approximately 50 populations are estimated to remain, all in a narrow band of suitable habitat (even formerly, the actual area occupied was quite small). Many threats exist, including construction of sea walls and dune fencing, development, heavy recreational use, and off-road vehicle traffic. It is difficult to afford protection because of the dynamic nature of the habitat and the fugitive nature of the biology of the species.

    • 01/01/2010

    Development, beach stabilization structures, off-road vehicles, recreational beach use, sea level rise. Beach erosion and tidal inundation also cause loss of individuals and habitat. Fragmentation of surviving patches of suitable habitat tend to be too far apart for seeds to travel and recolonize.

    • 01/01/2010

    At the time of listing, this species was known from 13 populations in NY, 34 populations in NC and 8 populations in SC (USFWS 1993). There are currently populations in NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC and SC. Between 1999 and 2015, A. pumilus experienced a 98.5% decline in the number of individuals found range-wide (Dale Suiter, USFWS, personal communication).

    • 01/01/2010

    The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky have plans for an experimental restoration of this species in Maryland at the site it was discovered at in 1999. (Lea 1999)

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Amaranthus pumilus
    Authority Raf.
    Family Amaranthaceae
    CPC Number 100
    ITIS 20744
    USDA AMPU2
    Duration Annual
    Common Names Seabeach Amaranth | Seabeach Pigweed | Seaside Amaranth
    Associated Scientific Names Amaranthus pumilus
    Distribution Amaranthus pumilus is endemic to the Atlantic coastal plain from Massachusetts to South Carolina.  Currently it found only in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and occasionally Virginia. It is considered extirpated from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut (USFWS 1993; NatureServe, 2017). Recordings of its findings date all the way back to 1802, made by Samuel Constantine Rafinesque (Kelly 2013)
     
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Connecticut SH
    Delaware S1
    Massachusetts SH
    Maryland S1
    North Carolina S2
    New Jersey S1
    New York S2
    Pennsylvania SNA
    Rhode Island SH
    South Carolina S1
    Virginia S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Photo Credit: Mike Kunz

    Photo Credit: Mike Kunz

    Photo Credit: Mike Kunz

    Photo Credit: Mike Kunz

    Photo Credit: Mike Kunz

    Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth) precise planting of tiny seeds. 

    Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth) planting with NC Botanical Garden and National Park Service.

    Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    Amaranthus pumilus seedling.

    Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    The team lead by North Carolina Botanical Garden planting Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) as part of a reintroduction initiative. 

    Photo Credit: Johnny Randall

    Seabeach amaranth growing for seed amplification to produce fresh seed for the IMLS seed longevity project

    Photo Credit: Michael Kunz
    Videos
    Increasing Seed for Restoration of Rare Annuals
    Bringing Back a Fugitive
    Newsletters
    Read More
    Pollinators
    Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
    Other
    Wind Confirmed Pollinator Link
    Reintroduction
    Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2017
    North Carolina Botanical Garden North Carolina Reintroduction 2021

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