Amaranthus cruentus
Blood amaranth | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Amaranthus |
Species: | A. cruentus
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Binomial name | |
Amaranthus cruentus | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Synonyms list
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Amaranthus cruentus is a
Description
Amaranthus cruentus is a tall annual herb topped with clusters of dark pink flowers. The plant can grow up to 2 m (6 ft) in height, and blooms in summer to fall. It is believed to have originated from Amaranthus hybridus, with which it shares many morphological features. The plant is usually green in color, but a purple variant was once grown for use in Inca rituals.[citation needed] height up to 13 feet are found in Wayanad, Kerala.
Uses
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
This species was in use as a food source in
It is an important crop for subsistence farmers in Africa.[4]
In
Among the Zuni people, the feathery part of a plant is ground into a fine meal and used to color ceremonial bread red.[5] The crushed leaves and blossoms are also moistened and rubbed on cheeks as rouge.[6]
In the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh (India), the grain is used to make kheer and served mostly as dessert during marriage ceremonies. The flour is also used to make deep-fried chapatis (pole).
Cultivation
A. cruentus is cultivated as an ornamental plant, valued for its feather-like flowering plumes. It is usually grown from seed as a half-hardy annual, that is sown under glass in early Spring and planted out in summer. Numerous cultivars have been developed, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
- 'Autumn Palette Group'[7] (earth colours – rust, cream, brown)
- 'Oeschberg'[8] (crimson flowers)
- 'Velvet Curtains'[9] (deep red/crimson)
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Amaranthus cruentus 'Oeschberg' foliage
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Amaranthus cruentus 'Oeschberg' flowerhead
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Amaranthus cruentus 'Foxtail' flower closeup
References
- ^ "Amaranthus cruentus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- OCLC 936144129.
- ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 p.87
- ^ Stevenson, p.83
- ^ "Amaranthus cruentus 'Autumn Palette Group'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Amaranthus cruentus 'Oeschberg'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ "Amaranthus cruentus 'Velvet Curtains'". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 January 2018.