Amaranthus
Scientific Name:
Amaranthus spp.
What is Amaranthus?
Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudo cereals, and ornamental plants. Most of the species from Amaranthus are summer annual weeds and are commonly referred to as pigweed.
In summer or autumn, Amaranthus species produce catkin-like cymes of densely packed flowers. Approximately 60 species are recognised, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to green or gold. Members of this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the closely related genus Celosia.
