Amaranthus hypochondriacus

Amaranthus hypochondriacus

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Amaranthus
Species:
A. hypochondriacus
Binomial name
Amaranthus hypochondriacus
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Amaranthus anardana Buch.-Ham. ex Moq.
    • Amaranthus atrosanguineus Moq.
    • Amaranthus aureus Besser
    • Amaranthus bernhardii Moq.
    • Amaranthus flavus L.
    • Amaranthus frumentaceus Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.
    • Amaranthus hybridus Vell. nom. illeg.
    • Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys Moq.
    • Amaranthus hybridus f. hypochondriacus (L.) H.Rob.
    • Amaranthus hybridus var. hypochondriacus (L.) H.Rob.
    • Amaranthus hybridus subsp. hypochondriacus (L.) Thell.
    • Amaranthus hybridus var. leucocarpus (S.Watson) Hunz.
    • Amaranthus leucocarpus S.Watson
    • Amaranthus leucospermus S.Watson
    • Amaranthus macrostachyus Mérat ex Moq.
    • Amaranthus monstrosus Moq.

Amaranthus hypochondriacus is an ornamental plant commonly known as Prince-of-Wales feather[3] or prince's-feather.[4][5] Originally endemic to Mexico, it is called quelite, bledo[6] and quintonil in Spanish.[7][8]

In Africa and El Salvador, like many other species in the family Amaranthaceae, it is valued as source of food.[9] The leaves and seeds are very nutritious and have a mild flavor.[10] The seeds also contain phenolic compounds.[11]

In temperate regions, it is cultivated as a half-hardy annual. Numerous cultivars have been selected, of which 'Green Thumb'[12] and 'Pygmy Torch'[13] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It grows best in well-drained soils in full sun, and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3–10. It may be susceptible to aphids.[14]

A. hypochondriacus is a vigorous, upright plant that typically reaches 40–200 cm (15–80 in) tall.[10] It is often grown for its flowers, which appear in dense, catkin-like inflorescences in the summer and autumn. They are usually deep purplish-red, but may be yellow-green.[14] These give way to dry fruits, about 1.5–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long, that split open when ripe.[15] The fruits contain smooth, shiny seeds that may be subglobose to lenticular, either whitish-pink or dark reddish-brown to black, and 1–1.4 mm (3⁄64–1⁄16 inch) in diameter.[16] The leaves are simple and alternately arranged, with entire margins.[15] They are rhombic-ovate to broadly lanceolate in shape, about 4–12 cm (1+1⁄2–4+1⁄2 inches) long and 2–7 cm (1–3 inches) wide, borne on long peduncles.[16]

  • Flower of A. hypochondriacus
    Flower of A. hypochondriacus

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer". Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  2. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
  3. ^ NRCS. "Amaranthus hypochondriacus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  4. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ Phillips, Edward (1720). The New World of Words. 7th ed.
  6. ^ "Cultivos andinos: Introducción". FAO: Oficina Regional de para América Latina y el Caribe. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  7. ^ "Semillas de Amaranto". UNAM: Colección Etnobotánica. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  8. ^ "El amaranto". University of Guadalajara: Centro Universitario de Biológicas y Afropecuarias. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
  9. ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
  10. ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  11. ^ Barba de la Rosa, A.P.; Fomsgaard, Inge S.; Laursen, Bente; Mortensen, Anne G.; Olvera-Martínez, L.; Silva-Sánchez, C.; Mendoza-Herrera, A.; González-Castañeda, J.; De León-Rodríguez, A. (2009-01-01). "Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) as an alternative crop for sustainable food production: Phenolic acids and flavonoids with potential impact on its nutraceutical quality". Journal of Cereal Science. 49 (1): 117–121. doi:10.1016/j.jcs.2008.07.012. ISSN 0733-5210.
  12. ^ "Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Green Thumb'". RHS. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Pygmy Torch'". RHS. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus (Cocks Comb, Lady Bleeding, Love Lies Bleeding, Pile Wort, Prince-of-Wales Feather, Prince's Feather, Prince's-feather, Red Cocks Comb) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  15. ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus (prince's-feather amaranth): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  16. ^ a b "Amaranthus hypochondriacus in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
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