Amaranthus tricolor: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image_caption =

|genus = Amaranthus

|species = tricolor

|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]

* ''Amaranthus melancholicus'' <small>L.</small><ref>{{GRIN | ''Amaranthus melancholicus'' | 409117 | access-date = 2013-08-14}}</ref>

|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2633132|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species}}</ref>

'''''Amaranthus tricolor''''', known as '''edible amaranth''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf |title=English Names for Korean Native Plants |publisher=[[Korea National Arboretum]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-89-97450-98-5 |location=Pocheon |pages=349 |access-date=6 December 2016 |via=[[Korea Forest Service]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525105020/http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''[[Amaranthus]]'', part of the family [[Amaranthaceae]].

The plantisoften cultivated for [[ornamental plant|ornamental]] and culinary purposes. It is known as '''bireum''' in Korea;<ref name=":0" /> '''tampala''', '''tandaljo''', or '''tandalja bhaji''' in India;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Amaranthus.html|author= Michel H. Porcher|title=Sorting ''Amaranthus'' names}}</ref> '''[[callaloo]]''' in the [[Caribbean]]; and '''Joseph's coat''' in other areas, in reference to the Biblical story of [[Joseph (Hebrew Bible)|Joseph]] and the [[coat of many colors]]. Although it is native to South and South-East Asia, ''A. tricolor'' is one of several species of [[amaranth]] cultivated in warm regions across the world.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} Cultivars have striking yellow, red, and green foliage.

== Culinary uses ==

[[File:Leiden University Library - Seikei Zusetsu vol. 23, page 024 - 人莧, 赤莧 - Amaranthus tricolor L. - 蕹菜, 番杏 - Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. - Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze, 1804.jpg|thumb|Amaranthus tricolor, illustration from the Japanese agricultural encyclopedia Seikei Zusetsu (1804)]]

The leaves and stems may be eaten as a [[salad vegetable]]. In Africa, it is usually cooked as a leafy vegetable.<ref name="prota">Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.</ref> It is usually [[Stir frying|stir fried]] or steamed as a side dish in both China and Japan.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

=== China ===

In [[China]], it is referred to as {{transl|zh|ISO|xiàncài}} ({{zh|t=[[wikt:莧菜|莧菜]]|s=[[wikt:苋菜|苋菜]]}}) and is often stir-fried with garlic and salt.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

=== Korea ===

In [[Korea]], the plant is referred to as ''bireum'' ({{lang|ko|비름}}). Small-leaved, reddish-stalked ''chambireum'' ({{lang|ko|참비름}}, "true ''bireum''") is used as a ''[[namul]]'' vegetable in [[Korean cuisine]]. Considered a ''[[san-namul]]'' (wild green) that grows abundantly in the countryside, it tends to be foraged rather than planted and harvested.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://korea.stripes.com/news/10-korean-spring-greens-you-should-know|title=10 Korean spring greens you should know|last=Bburi Kitchen|date=20 April 2016|newspaper=Stripes Korea|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220223708/http://korea.stripes.com/news/10-korean-spring-greens-you-should-know|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has an earthy and nutty flavor, and goes well with both [[gochujang]]- and [[soup soy sauce]]-based seasonings, and ''bori-[[bap (food)|bap]]'' (barley rice).<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kado.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=613963|title=박정희와 비름나물|last=정|first=운헌|date=6 March 2013|newspaper=Kangwon Dominilbo|language=ko|trans-title=Park Chung-hee and bireumnamul|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref><gallery>

File:Bireum-namul.jpg|''Bireum-[[namul]]'' (seasoned edible amaranth)

File:Amaranth(Edibles) Flower.jpg|Amaranth(Edibles) Flower

</gallery>

== In culture ==

It appears on the [[coat of arms]] of [[Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge]], where it is called "flowers gentle".{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

== ''Amaranthus gangeticus'' ==

'''''Amaranthus gangeticus''''' is considered a synonym of ''A. tricolor'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2632844 |title=''Amaranthus gangeticus'' L. |year=2010 |work=The Plant List |access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref> but has been recognized as a separate species in the past. ''A. gangeticus'' is also known as '''elephant-head amaranth'''. It is an annual [[flowering plant]] with deep purple flowers. It can grow to {{convert|2|-|3|ft}} tall. In [[Bangladesh]], it has been used as a leafy vegetable. It may inhibit [[Calcium_metabolism|calcium retention]] in rice-based diets.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Larsen | first1 = T. | last2 = Thilsted | first2 = S. H. | last3 = Biswas | first3 = S. K. | last4 = Tetens | first4 = I. | title = The leafy vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus gangeticus) is a potent inhibitor of calcium availability and retention in rice-based diets | doi = 10.1079/BJN2003923 | journal = British Journal of Nutrition | volume = 90 | issue = 3 | pages = 521–527 | year = 2007 | pmid = 13129457| doi-access = free }}</ref>

== References ==

== External links ==

{{Commons}}

{{Wikispecies}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081010203205/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+tricolor&RF=Webdisplay PROTAbase on ''Amaranthus tricolor'']

* {{EOL|597119}}

* {{PFAF|Amaranthus tricolor}}

* [http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id=D00738 Amaranthus tricolor L.] Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) {{in lang|zh-hant}} {{in lang|en}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3242205}}

[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]

[[Category:Korean vegetables]]

[[Category:Namul]]

[[Category:Flora of Malta]]