Amaranthus retroflexus
| Amaranthus retroflexus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Amaranthus |
| Species: | A. retroflexus |
| Binomial name | |
| Amaranthus retroflexus L. |
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Amaranthus retroflexus is a species of flowering plant in the Amaranthaceae family with several common names, including red-root amaranth, redroot pigweed, ped-rooted pigweed, common amaranth, and common tumbleweed.[1]
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[edit] Description
True to its name, it forms a tumbleweed.[1] It is native to the tropical Americas, but is widespread as an introduced species on most continents in a great number of habitats. This is an erect, annual herb reaching a maximum height near 3 meters. The leaves are nearly 15 centimeters long on large individuals, the ones higher on the stem having a lance shape and those lower on the plant diamond or oval in shape. The plant is monoecious, with individuals bearing both male and female flowers. The inflorescence is a large, dense cluster of flowers interspersed with spiny green bracts. The fruit is a capsule less than 2 mm long with a "lid" which opens to reveal a tiny black seed.
[edit] Culinary use
This plant is eaten as a vegetable in different places of the world. No species of genus Amaranthus are known to be poisonous,[2] but the leaves contain oxalic acid and may contain nitrates if grown in nitrate-rich soils, so the water should be discarded after boiling.
A. retroflexus was used for a multitude of food and medicinal purposes by many Native American groups.[3]
It is used in the Indian state of Kerala to prepare a popular dish known as thoran by combining the finely cut leaves with grated coconut, chilies, garlic, turmeric and other ingredients.
[edit] Use as fodder
When fed to cattle and pigs in large amounts over several days, this plant might be harmful by causing nephrotoxicity.[4]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Louis Hermann Pammel (1903). Some Weeds of Iowa. Experiment Station, Iowa State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. http://books.google.com/books?id=croUAAAAYAAJ. page 470
- ^ Plants for a future
- ^ Ethnobotany
- ^ FEIS Ecology
