Amaranthus blitum, commonly called purple amaranth or Guernsey pigweed, is an annual plant species in the economically important plant family Amaranthaceae. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is naturalized in other parts of the world.
Amaranthus blitum is an erect or semi-prostrate annual plant. The single or branched stem can grow to one metre (three point three feet) tall. The green or purplish leaves are up to 10 cm (4 in) long on stalks of a similar length and are arranged spirally. They are simple, roughly triangular in shape and have entire margins. The inflorescence is a spike with the tiny male and female flowers clustered together. The fruits are small globular capsules containing disc-shaped seeds.