Article on other languages:
 |
del.icio.us |
 |
Digg |
 |
Furl |
 |
|
 |
Rojo |
| Add to OnlyWire |
| Amaranthus retroflexus | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Amaranthus retroflexus L. |
Amaranthus retroflexus is a species of flowering plant with several common names, including Red-root Amaranth, Redroot Pigweed, Common Amaranth. It is native to the tropical Americas but it 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 millimeters long with a "lid" which opens to reveal a tiny black seed.
The plant is poisonous to cattle and pigs when eaten in large amounts over several days, causing nephrotoxicity.[1] Although the plant is high in nitrates overall, the soft young leaves and seeds are suitable for human consumption.[1] The plant was used for a multitude of food and medicinal purposes by many Native American groups.[2]
External links
References
 |
This Amaranthaceae article is a stub. Please help Wikipedia grow by expanding it. |