spiny amaranth; spiny pigweed; prickly amaranth; thorny amaranth
A plant species (Amaranthus spinosus) with spiny stems. The name is usually written in katakana as ハリビユ.
Spiny amaranth is a weed commonly found in tropical regions.
The leaves of this spiny amaranth are edible.
The name is formed from 針 and 莧, referring to the plant’s sharp paired spines at the leaf axils.