Amaranthus cruentus: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

|synonyms =

{{Collapsible list

|title = Synonyms list

|

*''A. anacardana'' <small>Hook.f.</small>

*''A. arardhanus'' <small>Sweet</small>

*''A. carneus'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. esculentus'' <small>Besser ex Moq.</small>

*''A. farinaceus'' <small>Roxb. ex Moq.</small>

*''A. guadeloupensis'' <small>Voss</small>

*''A. guadelupensis'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. incarnatus'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. montevidensis'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. paniculatus'' <small>L.</small>

*''A. purgans'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. rubescens'' <small>Moq.</small>

*''A. sanguineus'' <small>L.</small>

*''A. sanguinolentus'' <small>Schrad. ex Moq.</small>

*''A. speciosus'' <small>Sims</small>

*''A. spicatus'' <small>Wirzén</small>

*''A. strictus'' <small>Willd.</small>

}}

|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{ThePlantlist}}</ref>

'''''Amaranthus cruentus''''' is a [[flowering plant]] species that yields the nutritious staple [[amaranth grain]]. It is one of three ''[[Amaranthus]]'' species cultivated as a grain source, the other two being ''[[Amaranthus hypochondriacus]]'' and ''[[Amaranthus caudatus]]''. It has several common names, including '''blood amaranth''', '''red amaranth''', '''purple amaranth''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17}}</ref> '''prince's feather''', and '''Mexican grain amaranth'''.

''Amaranthus cruentus'' is a tall [[annual plant|annual]] herb topped with clusters of dark pink flowers. The plant can grow up to 2&nbsp;m (6&nbsp;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|date=June 2021}} height up to 13 feet are found in Wayanad, Kerala.

{{More citations needed section|date=June 2021}}

This species was in use as a food source in [[North America]] and [[Central America]] as early as [[4th millennium BC|4000 BC]]. The seeds are eaten as a cereal grain. They are black in the wild plant, and white in the domesticated form. They are ground into flour, popped like [[popcorn]], cooked into a [[porridge]], or made into a [[confectionery]] called ''alegría''.<ref name="StClair">{{Cite book|title=The Secret Lives of Colour|last=St. Clair|first=Kassia|publisher=John Murray|year=2016|isbn=9781473630819|location=London|page=131|oclc=936144129}}</ref> The leaves can be cooked like [[spinach]], and the seeds can be germinated into nutritious sprouts. While ''A. cruentus'' is no longer a [[staple food]] in North and Central America, it is still grown and sold as a [[health food]].

In [[Chhattisgarh]], red amaranth is used to make ''Lal Bhaji'', a stir-fried dish. In [[Maharashtra]], during the month of ''Shravan'', a stir-fried vegetable with just grated coconut is served during festivals. The stem is used ina curry made with ''Vaal'' [[hyacinth bean]].

Among the [[Zuni people]], the feathery part ofa plantis ground into a fine meal and used to color ceremonial bread red.<ref>Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 p.87</ref> The crushed leaves and blossoms are also moistened and rubbed on cheeks as [[Rouge (cosmetics)|rouge]].<ref>Stevenson, p.83</ref>

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).

''A. cruentus'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant, valued for its feather-like flowering plumes. It is usually grown from seed as a [[hardiness (plants)|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'<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/307774/i-Amaranthus-cruentus-i-Autumn-Palette-Group/Details

| title = ''Amaranthus cruentus'' 'Autumn Palette Group'

| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> (earth colours – rust, cream, brown)

*'Oeschberg'<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/304718/i-Amaranthus-cruentus-i-oeschberg/Details

| title = ''Amaranthus cruentus'' 'Oeschberg'

| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> (crimson flowers)

*'Velvet Curtains'<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/238930/i-Amaranthus-cruentus-i-Velvet-Curtains/Details

| title = ''Amaranthus cruentus'' 'Velvet Curtains'

| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> (deep red/crimson)

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081010203145/http://database.prota.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=QBE_QUERY&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdatabase.prota.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=PROTAB~1&QB0=AND&QF0=Species+Code&QI0=Amaranthus+cruentus&RF=Webdisplay PROTAbase on ''Amaranthus cruentus'']

* {{PFAF|Amaranthus cruentus}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q159191}}

[[Category:Flora of Mexico]]

[[Category:Flora of Central America]]

[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]