Amaranthus caudatus

Taxobox
name = "Amaranthus caudatus"

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
genus = "Amaranthus"
binomial = "Amaranthus caudatus"
binomial_authority = L.

"Amaranthus caudatus" is a species of annual flowering plant. It goes by common names such as love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, and quilete. Many parts of the plants, including the leaves and seeds, are edible, and are frequently used as a source of food in India and South America — where it is the most important Andean species of "Amaranthus", known as Kiwicha (see also Andean ancient plants). This species, as with many other of the Amaranths, are originally from the American tropics. The exact origin is unknown, as "A. caudatus" is believed to be a wild "Amaranthus hybridus" aggregate.

The red color of the inflorescences is due to a high content of betacyanins, like in the related species known as "Hopi Red Dye" amaranth. Ornamental garden varieties sold under the latter name are either "Amaranthus cruentus" or a hybrid between "A. cruentus" and "Amaranthus powelli". In indigenous agriculture, "Amaranthus cruentus" is the Central American counterpart to South American "Amaranthus caudatus".

"A. caudatus" can grow anywhere from 3 to 8 feet in height, and grows best in full sun. It can handle a variety of conditions, both humid and arid. It is easily grown from seed; plants can be started indoors in early spring and transplanted outdoors after the last frost.

References

* [http://www.botany.wisc.edu/garden/db/speciesdetail.asp?genus=Amaranthus&species=caudatus Information from University of Wisconsin]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200006980 Flora of North America: Taxonomic, Scientific, and Distribution Information]
* [http://www.kokopelli-seed-foundation.com/amaranths.html Article about role of Amaranths in native American agriculture]

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?290,294,299 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMCA3 USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=2187 Ecoport token] for "Amaranthus caudatus L."
* [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/faminefood/category3/cat3_Amaranthus_caudatus.htm "Wild Food Plants Attracting Additional Consumer Categories": Amaranthus caudatus] (Famine Food Guide website)
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Amaranthus+caudatus Photo gallery]