Volume 5 > Part 4 > Year 1992 > Page 384 > Amaranthaceae > Amaranthus

2. Amaranthus caudatus L.wfo-0000530136

Sp. Pl.: 990. 1753; Hook.f. in Fl. Br. Ind. 4: 719. 1885; Gagnep. in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 4: 1061. 1936; Sauer, Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 54: 126. 1967; K.Larsen in Fl. C.L.V. 24: 22. 1989.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Annual herb up to 80 cm high, rarely taller, in the upper part ± patently hairy; sparsely branched, usually reddish coloured. Leaves long-petiolate, ovate, rhombic, often reddish along the margin. Inflorescences of terminal and axillary pseudo-spikes from the very base, the terminal ones often very long, 2–3 cm thick, branched in the basal part. Flower-clusters ± spherical; bracts and bracteoles longer than flowers, mucronate. Perianth 5-merous; tepals in obovoid to spathulate at least partly imbricate, in ♂ ovate-oblong, shortly mucronate, 2–2.5 mm including mucro, purple. Styles 3, ca 0.8 mm. Fruit a circumscissile capsule, slightly longer than perianth. Seeds 1–1.5 mm long, black to dark brown, reddish or even pale yellow, shining.

Thailand : No herbarium specimens seen.

Distribution : Probably originating in S America by domestication of Amaranthus quitensis HBK (SAUER, l.c.).

Ecology : Weedy on open soil.

Vernacular : Kammayi (กำมะหยี่), phak khom bai daeng (ผักขมใบแดง)(Central).

CommonName : Love-lies-bleeding

Uses: Widely cultivated as a grain crop and in many other parts of Asia also as an ornamental. It may have been used by the hilltribes of Northern Thailand.